Whitehall lands stakes double at Century

CALGARY, Canada, (CMC):

Barbadian Antonio Whitehall swept both added-money races at Century Downs here Sunday, to come away with the honours on the nine-race card.

The 23-year-old partnered with favourite Escape Clause to win the CAN$50,000 CTHS Sales Stakes for three and four-year-olds in Race Eight before returning to score with 2-1 choice Langara in the CAN$50,000 CTHS Sales Stakes for three and four-year-old colts and geldings, in Race Nine.

A number of other Caribbean riders were also successful on the programme. Multiple-time Northlands Park champion, Barbadian Rico Walcott, won Race Seven over seven furlongs with favourite SHIMSHINE while Trinidadian Keishan Balgobin, who also plies his trade at Northlands, also tasted victory in race four with another favourite, THE GREY ONE, going six furlongs.

Jamaican Andre Martin and Shamaree Muir were also in winners' row. Martin won race five over six furlongs with 3-1 bet KIRWAN'S MOUNTAIN while Muir captured Race Six with favourite SPECTRUS, going seven furlongs.

However, it was Whitehall who dominated with his double stakes triumph at the southern Alberta racing venue.

Going 61/2 furlongs, Whitehall made nearly all the running with the three-year-old bay filly, storming to a dominant 93/4 length victory.

Whitehall duelled early on with TIDAL MIST, ridden by Barbadian Renaldo Cumberbatch, before hitting the front and widening impressively.

In another 61/2 furlong trip in Race Nine, Whitehall guided four-year-old gelding Langara to a three-length score. The duo battled with Stormchaser through the half run in 45.40 seconds before grabbing the lead at the quarter-pole and kicking on strongly.