Jamaica's Francis shines in Canada

EDMONTON, Ontario, (CMC):

Jamaican Paul Francis landed a brace as Caribbean riders left their mark on the seven-race card at Assiniboia Downs on Monday.

The experienced rider won the day's opener aboard 3-1 bet Lemonford before returning in the final race of the card to score with favourite Tactics.

Francis was just one of several Caribbean winners on the day, however, as fellow Jamaicans Romario Saunders and Tyrone Nelson, along with Barbadian Dario Dalrymple, all secured victories.

Francis opened his account in a five-furlong sprint, carrying Lemonford to a narrow victory over the three-year-old and upward maidens.

Wannago posted the early fractions but faded in the stretch, and Francis brought the four-year-old colt from third with a flying late run to edge Matlock by a neck at the wire.

His second win came in another five-furlong sprint as he dominated the three-year-old and upward fillies and mares with Tactics, to win by four lengths.

Meanwhile, Saunders' success came in race two over five furlongs, when he combined with 2-1 chance Ifiwantto to beat the three-year-old and upward maidens by 21/4 lengths.

And Nelson tasted success over 51/2 furlongs in race six with 6-1 choice Son of Pearl, outlasting the three-year-olds and upward by 21/2 lengths.