KINGSTON, Jamaica - Former four-time Jamaican champion Dane Nelson continued to light up the Canadian racing circuit after producing two fine rides to capture both major stakes races on the 10-race card at Century Mile, Edmonton, Canada, on Saturday, September 24, 2022.
Nelson guided home the Robertino Diodoro-conditioned 3-5 favourite Soy Tapatio in the CAN$50,000 Don Getty Handicap, a black type stakes race for three-year-olds and upwards over one and one-eighth of a mile.
Soy Tapatio sat in second place for most of the way, took on the leader at the far turn, and hit the front hard at the top of the lane. Soy Tapatio went on to win easily by 7 1/4 lengths in 1:48.81, just a fraction slower than the track record of 1:48.73.
The bustling Nelson then won aboard 5-2 betting option Dance Shoes in the CAN$50,000 RK Red Smith Handicap, a black type race for fillies and mares, three-year-olda and upwards, also over one and one-eighth of a mile. Nelson held the James Brown trainee in third place in the four-path for most of the way. Dance Shoes was then fanned three wide in the far turn and gained a slim lead nearing the quarter pole and held on to win by a length in the end. The final time was 1:50.73.
"Nothing beats hard work. I have been putting in the hard work and I am so happy that I can reap success.
"I must say thank the connections of both horses and everyone for their support," Nelson said.
"It is just nice to win races and it is even better when you win stakes races as you will be recognised more for your talent. I am here still learning and doing my thing," Nelson continued.
With those winners, Nelson, who had also won two races the day before, took his tally to 48 winners for the season and 319 overall since he began riding in Canada in 2015.
