Premier Hon. Dr. Orlando Smith with Violet 'Letty' Hodge of L&B Stables, which owns Really Up Town

Photo Credit: Gordon French/BVI Platinum News

Premier Hon. Dr. Orlando Smith with Violet 'Letty' Hodge of L&B Stables, which owns Really Up Town

Photo Credit: Gordon French/BVI Platinum News

Distance was a non-factor for Tortola's Really Up Town, which continued it's dominance at the Ellis Thomas Downs in Sea Cows Bay by winning the first leg of the second annual Virgin Islands Triple Crown today, January 13.

Down the closing stretch of the 1 and 1/16 mile feature race, Really Up Town was ahead by more than five body lengths ahead of the field that featured Good Prospecting and St. Croix's Gato Paso.

St. Thomas' Twisted Dream was scratched. The race, dubbed the Turtle Dove Classic, featured a purse of $10,000 and was sponsored by Premier, Hon. Dr. D. Orlando Smith and Vanterpool Enterprises.

St. Croix's best chance, Slevin, which won the first leg of the Triple Crown last year at the Downs did not get the chance to repeat. He sat out with an injury.

In the first race of the day, St. Thomas' Walk the Tiger took the 6 Furlongs victory in a time of 1:20.3. The Eileen Parsons Classic featured a purse of $4000 and was sponsored by LIME. Power Ten placed second followed by Queteparace Cholito.

The second race of the day was the Oliver Cills Showdown for a purse of $4,500 sponsored by Hon. Julian Fraser, Third District Representative.

Really Up Town ahead by 'a mile' in the closing stages of the feature race of the First Leg of the VI Triple Crown at the Ellis Thomas Downs on Tortola

Photo Credit: Gordon French/BVI Platinum News

Really Up Town ahead by 'a mile' in the closing stages of the feature race of the First Leg of the VI Triple Crown at the Ellis Thomas Downs on Tortola

Photo Credit: Gordon French/BVI Platinum News

St. Croix's Drink At Last Call on debut copped victory in a time of 1:22.4 ahead of Tormento and Good Boy Daddy. St Thomas' Green Light special was scratched.

The Alex Ritter Special sponsored by Ashley Ritter was the third race of the day. The 1 mile encounter saw a purse of $6,000. St. Thomas' Goodevening Officer was scratched. Blake's Lucky Penny outlasted the field down the stretch to win in a time of 1:48.0

Glorious Memory placed second followed by True Essence.

The fourth race of the day was a duel between Broken Home and Khun Dan after Gaffalione was scratched from the 1 mile, which was sponsored by Patsy Lake.

Broken Home took the victory in a time of 1:48.1.