Feb. 19, 2007 — Gin's Dancer danced all over the competition in the 1 and 1/16-mile feature race at the Agriculture Fair Stakes Sunday to take home the winner's share of the $6000 purse.
In the eyes of many racing fans at the track, it was a huge upset over favorite Kentucky Kris. But not so much so if you ask co-owner Theodore Joseph.
"The last time we were here he was coming off of an injury, but he ran a good race and came in second," Joseph said. "We knew we were coming back here, but we also knew he needed some more racing under his belt. So we took him to Tortola, where he ran another good second. We know he was ready coming into this race."
More than 2,000 racing fans turned out to the Randall "Doc" James race track for the Agriculture Fair weekend races, and they got treated to some very exciting duels. The day belonged to Gin's Dancer, however, who finished the feature race in 1:45.4.
The races were overshadowed by the death of a jockey injured in the seventh race. (See "Jockey Dies After Starting-Gate Accident at St. Croix Track.") Because of the accident, officials ruled that race null and void.
In the feature race, Zerocs, with jockey Junior Inirio aboard, came out of the gate first, followed closely by Kentucky Kris with Juan Oyola in the irons. The two took the field into the backstretch and battled on the front end with Carson Secrets and jockey Elmo Barnes a close third, followed by Gin's Dancer with jockey Andy Hernandez and Gallego with jockey Kerwin John.
Midway down the backstretch, Carson Secrets moved up to join the front-runners. At the same time, Zerocs — looking as if he had had enough — dropped back and soon fell out of contention. Now in a head-to-head duel, Carson Secrets and Kentucky Kris entered the far turn as one to the delight of the thousands in the stands. The horses looked as if they were really going to put on the show the people came to see. But as they turned for home, a roar went up from the grandstand as gaining — and gaining fast — came Gin's Dancer, coming to crash the party.
Could this be an upset in the making? That question was answered moments later with a resounding yes, as the Brennan Smith-trained gray gelding easily swept by the two pre-race favorites and continued to draw away en route to the wire to win by a comfortable three lengths.
Carson Secrets managed to outduel Kentucky Kris for second. Gallego finished fourth, followed by Zeroc far back in last place.
The ninth and final race of the day was another highly anticipated rematch between two of the Virgin Islands' top native thoroughbreds, Fantastic Four and Guavaberry Star.
In December, Guavaberry Star, looking to close the deal on the native Triple Crown with a win in the HOVENSA Cup, got turned away. The loss came mostly because of the battle she had on the front end with Fantastic Four. While Fantastic Four got the better of her that day, on Sunday, with Inirio in the irons, Guavaberry Star went back to her winning ways as she wired the field in the seven-and-a-half furlongs race, winning by three lengths over Fantastic Four and jockey Kerwin John in a time of 1:36.1. Closing for a distant third was Shysie with Jesus Guadelupe aboard.
Here are the rest of the day's results:
Race 1 6F Class H, Jockey
Time: 1:20.1
1. Secret Weapon, Elmo Barnes
2. C-Biscuite, Kevin Krigger
3. Indica, Kerwin John
Race 2 7F Class F(2)
Time: 1:32
1. Queen Mary, Elmo Barnes
2. Fightforyourrights, Miguel Sanchez
3. Bun a Ting, Alphonso Claudio
Race 3 1M Class E
Time: 1:42.1
1. Tulsa Boy, Miguel Sanchez
2. Escapade's Prince, Junior Inirio
3. Cat Hunter, Alberto Ojeda
Race 4 1M open M&F
Time: 1:44.1
1. Caribbean Colony, Kerwin John
2. Scat's Mine, Junior Inirio
3. Betty Rae, Jesus Guadelupe
Race 5 7 1/2F Classes D&E
Time: 1:34.3
1. Sarazen Blade, Kerwin John
2. Him Did It, Miguel Hernandez
3. Knight Court, Elmo Barnes
Race 6 1M Class B
Time: 1:40.4
1. Rubiano's Jewel, Elmo Barnes
2. Prayerful, Marlon Edwin
3. Cody's Lucky Appeal, Devon Anderson
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