SASKATOON-Naim Samaroo captured the CAN $6,500 feature Marquis Downs Handicap, and was one of three English-speaking Caribbean-born jockeys that logged doubles on Saturday's nine-race card at Marquis Downs. The T&T-born Samaroo steered the 7-2 second choice Buff Daddy to a æ-length victory over Loyal Son, under Fazal Razack, another T&T-born jockey, in the fifth race on the card. Buff Daddy, a five-year-old, grey gelding, clocked one minute, 26.24 seconds over the 1,400-metre trip, handing Samaroo his second stakes victory in two days and for the season. Samaroo was unhurried on Buff Daddy early, keeping his mount near the back of the pack through the first half of the race.
He steadily advanced Buff Daddy, and closed with a rush in a driving finish to prevail over Loyal Son.
Samaroo had earlier captured the CAN $3,400 second race, when he drove the 3-2 second choice Smokin Rocket to a two-length victory. He put the five-year-old, grey mare in the middle of the pack, racing her evenly, until he vied for the lead in the stretch to outlast rivals for a time of 1 min, 15.83 secs. Samaroo leads the jockeys standings with 23 wins, putting him six clear of Jamaican Neville Stephenson, with fellow T&T reinsman Christopher Jadoo third on 15. Stephenson increased his aggregate with a 2 -length victory aboard the 5-1 bet Itlee in the CAN $3,500 fourth race, and a half-length victory on the 5-1 chance Closing Passage in the CAN $3,400 sixth race.
CMC
