By Elton Tucker, Assistant Sport EditorVETERAN lightweight jockey Robert Reid won the CTL Fan Appreciation Day Trophy for the second straight year when he pushed 2-1 second favourite IDITAROD to a three-quarter length victory in yesterday's 2200 metres co-feature at Caymanas Park.
Reid who won last year's renewal aboard 13-1 outsider MINISTER'S DELIGHT was at his powerful best in yesterday's finish getting home ahead of 9-2 shot BROADWAY BELLE ridden by Kenyatta Davis.
Hot ante post favourite FROMRUSSIAWITHLOVE was scratched by his connections following a threat on the life of jockey Charlie Hussey. BASICALLY was also not eligible as only seven horses faced the starter.
IDITAROD was held up near the back of the field as the early pace was set by BROADWAY BELLE and EMPERADOR. It was BROADWAY BELLE who led as they thundered past the winning post for the first time ahead of a tightly held EMPERADOR.
Shane Ellis aboard EMPERADOR made his move 1000 metres out and took up the running closely followed by BROADWAY BELLE and the improving pair of 8-5 favourite L.S.C. CHOICE and IDITAROD.
EMPERADOR came under pressure early in the straight and BROADWAY BELLE took up the running. As soon as she hit the front, however, Reid pounced on the outside and after a brief duel edged away for a close but decisive victory. The winner a four-year-old filly by THE MEDIC - LADY RUMAANI is owned by the Ping Pong Stables.
The earlier co-feature, the New Year's Day Trophy over 1300 metres, went in easy fashion to the Philip Feanny-trained, Joseph Duany-owned SATISFIER ridden by visiting Panamanian jockey Ameth Robles.
WITHALLMYHEART ridden by Ellis made most of the running ahead of TSUNAMI. The DaCosta-trained filly came into the straight a good leader but faltered inside the final 150 metres and could give no more when Robles came with a storming run on the inside to win going away in a very good 1:20.0.
The third trophy race on the card, the McKay Security over 1820 metres for the claiming group $120,000-$105,000 was won by TROPICAL STAR at 3-1 as Reid bagged his first of two winners. Reid pushed out the lightly weighted winner to thwart hot favourite WAR EDGE who came down a notch for the trophy event after being narrowly beaten five days ago by Bloody Mary in the $150,000 claiming group. TROPICAL STAR is owned by Keith Williams and trained by Robert Darby Jnr.
Reid was one of three jockeys who rode doubles on the card. The others were Ellis (OUTSWINGER and PROCEEDACCORDINGLY) and Robles (CORDITE and SATISFIER.
