Bowen takes headlines at Arlington with four-timer

Barbadian Rocco Bowen took centre stage at Arlington Park in Illinois, on Saturday, winning half of the eight races on the Labour Day weekend card to move into the top three of the jockeys standings.

The 31-year-old captured race two with 2-1 bet Ol Grey Ghost, followed up in race four with victory aboard 7-1 choice Major Wager before sweeping the last two races on the programme with 4-6 chance No Nay Now and favourite Stack Shack.

Bowen now lies third on 40 wins, four behind Christopher Emigh, with runaway leader Jareth Loveberry on 83 waiting to be crowned champion when the season wraps September 25 in the United States Midwest.

After narrowly missing out in race one over six furlongs with 10-1 bet Dark Ninja to finish third, Bowen made his second outing count when he partnered with five-year-old gelding Ol Grey Ghost to beat the three-year-olds in another six furlong sprint.

Favourite Upbeat Melody led through the first quarter before Bowen bid with Old Grey Ghost nearing the three-eighths, got to the front in the upper stretch to reach the finish four lengths clear.

His second win came after he finished last in race three, guiding four-year-old bay gelding Major Wager to a narrow win over the three or four-year-olds and upwards.

Going five furlongs, Major Wager recovered from a stumble at the break to be in mid-pack before bidding at the quarter pole and out-lasting 17-1 outsider Tuff Attack by a head at the wire.

Bowen had to wait until race seven to find the winners’ enclosure again, this time combining with four-year-old bay gelding No Nay Now to edge the three-year-olds and upward by a nose over a mile.

Artie and Jessie and Cold Bordie disputed the lead through the half run in 49.15 seconds before Bowen sent No Nay Now to the front at the quarter pole, holding off Quiet Prayer at the finish.

And the seasoned rider lowered the curtain on the day’s programme when he made virtually all the running with four-year-old chestnut filly Stack Shack to brush aside the three-year-old and upward fillies and mares by 2-½ lengths in a mile trip.

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