Barbadian jockeys headline regional success

Reigning champion, Barbadian Juan Crawford, rode a double to lead a string of Caribbean successes on the eight-race card at Fort Erie in Canada.

The 42-year-old won race five over a mile with 5-1 chance Doctor Uptown on Tuesday, before returning to capture race seven over six furlongs with 8-1 bet Team Win.

Jamaican Kirk Johnson joined the winners when he partnered with near-favourite Kozy Cat to beat the three-year-old and upward fillies and mares by 1-¼ lengths in race two over six furlongs.

And veteran Barbadian Simon Husbands teamed up with 3-1 chance Gizmo Rogers to brush aside the three-year-old and upward maidens by 1-½ lengths going a mile.

Championship leader, Barbadian Chris Husbands, grabbed his share of glory when he got seven-year-old chestnut gelding Grin n’ Bear up late to edge the three-year-olds and upward in a two furlong dash.

Husbands tops the standings with 28 wins, 14 clear of Guyana-born Sunny Singh, with Crawford fourth on 12 and Johnson sixth on nine wins.

It was Crawford who took the plaudits with his brace, however.

After four previous failed outings, he opened his account by guiding five-year-old chestnut gelding Doctor Uptown to a narrow win over the three-year-olds and upward.

Bay of Rum duelled first with Remember the Maine and Deep Explorer before Crawford brought Doctor Uptown with the late charge to win by a head.

And his second win came when he steered five-year-old mare Team Win to a 2-¼ length victory over the three-year-old and upward fillies and mares.

Zoysia, with Johnson aboard, set the early pace but Crawford produced a flying late run with Team Win to go from last to first.

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