Veteran Jamaican jockey shines in Canada

WINNIPEG, Canada, (CMC):

Jamaican Leroy Nelson rode three winners, including the capture of the feature CAN$20,000 Astral Moon Overnight Stakes, in his first appearance in North America in five years, to make the headlines on the opening day at Assiniboia Downs on Monday.

Only the third Canadian racetrack to throw open its doors following Hastings and Century Mile amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the seven-race card at the western Canada oval was dominated by the 41-year-old Nelson, while fellow Jamaican Neville Stephenson rode two winners.

Nelson, the cousin of experienced jockey Tyrone Nelson who also plies his trade at Assiniboia Downs, produced an upset in the Astral Moon in race two when he combined with 5-1 chance Purrsistent to beat the three-year-old and upward fillies and mares by a length.

Going five furlongs, 2-1 bet Cypress Point and favourite Halfinthewrapper duelled early on with Miss Imperial weighing in, and Nelson stalking with Purrsistent.

Cypress Point led late in the stretch but was overtaken by Purrsistent as the five-year-old mare hit the wire in a time of 58.60 seconds.

Nelson had earlier opened his account when he steered 6-1 chance Maibella to a two-length win over the three-year-old maiden fillies in another five furlong sprint. Maibella pressed pace-setter and favourite Tormentica, ridden by Barbadian Antonio Whitehall, before finally getting by at the 16th pole to win in 59.40.

Nelson's third win came in race six over five furlongs when he brought 4-1 choice Warbridge from off the pace to collar the leaders in the stretch, edging 5-1 bet Northern Sky by a neck at the wire in a time of one minute 0.60 seconds.

Stephenson also got into the act in race four with 4-1 chance Lil Miss Molly, making all the running over five furlongs to beat the three-year-old and upward fillies and mares by a length.

The veteran reinsman followed up in another five furlong dash in race five by carrying favourite City Champ to victory by a length over the three-year-olds.