Expect Smoke showed local fans just why he is St. Croix’s top thoroughbred after an easy three-lengths victory over highly touted newcomer Berberis in the featured eight race of the day.
Expect Smoke negotiated the seven-furlong distance in a time of 1:24.3, a fraction of a second off the track record of 1:24.1 set by Old Matches in 1991, and subsequently matched by Valid Appeal in 2000 and Flankers Lady in 2010.
Expect Smoke hooked up in a speed duel with Berberis out front of the field that saw them flew by the six-furlong marker in a very fast 1:10. However, when they hit the top of the stretch, the champ’s jockey Edwin Gonzalez asked for more, and he responded by drawing away from a tiring Berberis down the stretch. Expect Smoke zipped by the finish line full of run and looked as if he could have gone around the track one more time, while Berberis was just able to hold off a fast-closing Groomsman, with jockey Christian Soto in the irons, by a head for second place.
Race seven, at 1-1/16 miles, was a coming out party for Eire’s Run as he smoked the field in a very good time of 1:43.2 over a fast track. Also in the race was Black Jack Bob who had won some eight straight races and nine out of ten.
However, he was stepping up in class and was no match for the winner. He did run a game second over Puerto Rican Emblem, who also ran his best race in recent times. Eire’s Run, with Miguel Sanchez aboard, took command of the race around the clubhouse turn, and from then on the race was for second place.
This now sets up a head-to-head matchup with the champ Expect Smoke who just nosed out Eire’s Run in their last head to head.
Leggy Blonde’s victory in the one-mile fifth race for mares and fillies was a pleasant surprise. Going up against the top two mares in the territory, she shot by a front-running WhoShotthesheriff around the far turn on her way to a three-lengths win at the wire. Leggy Blonde, who came to St. Croix as an unraced filly, stopped the clock in a time of 1:38.4. WhoShotthesheriff held on for second with Finish in Style a tiring third.
The rest of the day’s results:
Race1 5 F Classes N-6, Jockey
Time: 1:03.3
1. Omayra’s Pride, Winston Hurst
2. Joe Boss, Elmo Barnes
3. Deuces Halo, Angel Viera
Race2 7 F Classes I-5 (M/F) & I-6 (C/G), Jockey
Time: 1:26.4
1. Itsmidas, Winston Hurst
2. Separate Bill, Jose Hernandez
3. MJ Kailahsafe, Elmo Barnes
Race3 7 ½ F Class I-5&6 C/G & I-4 (M/F), Jockey
Time: 1:34
1. According to Jesus, Jose Hernandez
2. Wekiva Trail, Angel Viera
3. Tulsa Boy, Elmo Barnes
Race4 7 ½ F Class I-4 & I-5, Jockey
Time: 1:33
1. Full House Project, Jose Hernandez
2. San Viron, Jesus Guadelupe
3. Bruno’s Burst, Sunday Diaz
Race6 5 F Classes N-4 & N-5, Jockey
Time: 1:01
1. Midnight Indictment, Alphonso Claudio
2. Super Pop, Winston Hurst
2. Express to Cali, Jose Hernandez
Race8 1 M Class I-4 M/F, Jockey
Time: 1:27.2
1. Sarasota May Bell, Winston Hurst
2. Destiny Arrival, Christian Soto jr.
3. YIMC Sword, Jose Hernandez
