EDMONTON – Barbadian jockey Rico Walcott dominated the eight-race card at Northlands Park at the weekend, winning four races to extend his lead at the top of the standings.
The three-time defending champion won race 1 with favourite Stopped Short, race 3 with 2-1 chance Diesel Dan, race four with odds-on bet Boston Bob before also capturing race five aboard 5-1 chance Wainwright.
Walcott has 30 wins from 102 starts for the season, nine clear of nearest challenger Scott Williams, with his fellow Barbadian Quincy Welch third on 15 wins.
The success was welcomed for Walcott who went unusually winless on Wednesday’s midweek eight-race card.
He kicked off proceedings on Friday going a mile when he carried Stopped Short to victory by 6-3/4 lengths over the three-year-olds and upward.
Walcott pressed the leaders Illegal Whiskey and LG’s Flash from third before getting to the front just before the quarter pole and widening with the four-year-old chestnut gelding.
In race three over 6-1/2 furlongs, Walcott and Diesel Dan brushed aside the three-year-olds to win by 3-3/4 lengths.
Guns a Blazin and Frosty Legend duelled for the lead through the half-mile before Walcott brought the bay gelding Diesel Dan with a strong run in the stretch to take the lead and win handsomely.
In race four over a mile, Walcott tucked Boston Bob in along the rails as Rebel the Red and Run Chaser posted the early fractions, with 24.27 seconds for the quarter and 49.28 for the half.
On the final turn, Walcott switched the four-year-old bay gelding to the outside and brought him with a fine run to overhaul the leaders and reach the wire 2-1/2 lengths clear.
His final victory came in a 6-1/2 furlong trip, when he survived a poor start with Wainwright to carry the six-year-old bay gelding to a length win over the three-year-olds and upward. (CMC)
