COME ON VENEZUELA wins feature event at August Tuesday Races

in All News / By: BVI News on August 3, 2022 at 8:12 AM /

Scenes from the August Tuesday Races held at the Ellis Thomas Downs in Sea Cows Bay. (Photos by Andre ‘Shadow’ Dawson)

With the feature race of the annual August Tuesday Races a USVI versus BVI affair, it was the St Thomas-based COME ON VENEZUELA who emerged victorious inside the Ellis Thomas Downs in Sea Cow’s Bay, Tortola.

In an unforgettable debut, COME ON VENEZUELA – owned and trained by Laquan Charleswell – finished ahead of COURAGE & HONOUR of Top Priority Stables and ONE WAY TO FAME out of Missionhouse Racing Stables to claim the one-mile Rodney ‘Mileage’ Simmonds Memorial Race and a $9,000 cash prize.

The horse was ridden to victory by jockey Angel Morino.

The race with the next highest cash prize was the seven-furlong Earl ‘Bob’ Hodge Memorial Race. It was a race for debutants as KEEP THE COMMISH out of Missionhouse Racing Stables came face-to-face with ROMANTIC HENRY owned and trained by Mervin Thomas. It was ROMANTIC HENRY ridden by José Hernandez who crossed the line first to claim the $7,000.

Morino was once again a winning jockey; this time while riding PUTTINGONASHOW out of St Thomas. PUTTINGONASHOW won the seven-furlong Ronnie ‘Biggy/Animal’ Hodge Classic for a prize of $6,000. He finished ahead of Hernandez who was riding debutant ASTRO RIDE out of Family Affairs Stables.

Meanwhile, DISSERATION of Pleasant Valley Racing Stables emerged as the victor when it made its debut in the seven-furlong Elliot ‘Pabboy’ Hodge Memorial Race which came with a purse of $5,000. DISSERATION was being ridden by Winston Hurst, Jr. The other two debutants in the race were FASINATING BEAUTY — trained and owned by Mervin Thomas — and CLAVE DE DO out of Top Priority Racing Stables who finished second and third, respectively.

Hernandez’ other win of the day came during the opening race—the seven-furlong mares and fillies Lenford Antonio ‘Bolo’ Baptiste Memorial Race.

He rode home debutant, SHINE N JAM — which is owned and trained by Malvin ‘Bird’ Hodge — to claim the $4,000 prize. The veteran racehorse NADIAE’S IMAGE of Top Priority Racing Stables had to settle for second in the two-horse event.