Dead heat! Double keeps Ellis, Cardenas level

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

Title contenders Shane Ellis and Dick Cardenas rode two winners each at Cay-manas Park yesterday to maintain joint leadership of the jockeys' championship with 84 wins.

Both are steadily pulling clear of reigning champion Omar Walker, who managed only one win, this aboard 3-1 chance GHOST RAPPER in the second race over 1600 metres.

Starting the day locked with Cardenas on 82 wins - eight clear of Walker in third - Ellis drew first blood with an easy win aboard 1-5 favourite BLAST THEM AWAY for champion trainer Wayne DaCosta in the opening race for two-year-olds.

Cardenas levelled the score once again with a come-from-behind ride aboard 2-1 chance FLAGAMAN for trainer Lazel Khwalsingh in the fourth race ($180,000 claiming).

Many close calls

But Ellis was to surge ahead once again, thanks to a post-to-post win aboard 1-9 favourite DIFERENTGENERATION for trainer Rowan Mathie in the Lester Saunders Memorial Cup feature, the debutante holding on by only a neck from the fast-finishing PLATINUM KING (5-1) with Dane Nelson up.

Cardenas came back to draw level after winning the seventh race over 1820 metres aboard 3-1 chance SUPER HARMONY for trainer Louis Richards.

Although the focus of late is on the intriguing contest for the jockeys' championship, Dane Nelson shared the riding honours with two winners in 4-1 chance TERRA MARIQUE in the seventh race over the straight and 8-5 favourite CRAZY RACER in the nightpan.

Third-generation trainer Steven Todd, who graduated as a full-fledged trainer only seven weeks ago, became the first from his batch to post a double. These were TERRA MARIQUE and the 17-1 outsider SI PUEDO under Aaron Chatrie in the knotty overnight allowance race over 1100 metres.

Todd, the 27-year-old son of trainer Richie Todd and grandson of retired trainer L.C. Todd, is the owner of both horses as well.

The youngster, who has had a passion for racing since his schoolboy days at St George's College, said he was confident of landing his first double.

"Terra Marique had no luck in running when suffering grave interference in her two recent races. I knew she would not be beaten today.

"Si Puedo disliked the mud when fifth to Esquire recently, but ran well behind Hombre in his previous race, and given normal conditions, this win was expected," explained Todd. Batchmate Rohan Gordon saddled his first winner, SQUASHI.