PORTLAND, Oregon, CMC – Barbadian jockey Rocco Bowen landed his second added-money race of the month when he captured the first leg of the US$ 4 300 McFadden Memorial Spring Claiming Series at Portland Meadows here Wednesday.
Going off as the 4-1 favourite aboard D Devil, Bowen produced an excellent gate-to-wire ride to carry the 10-year-old bay gelding to the wire by 3-1/2 lengths, in the five furlong trip.
He sparred with outsider Tw Dashboardlights for the lead during the quarter mile before emerging with the advantage nearing the quarter pole. Bowen then kept the gelding to task in the stretch to reach the finish unchallenged.
The second leg runs off on September 5.
The victory was one of two on the day’s eight-race card for Bowen who also won the $3 500 race one with the favourite Artemida.
Going six furlongs, Bowen stalked early on before getting to the front in the stretch and carrying the three-year-old bay filly to the wire by 2-1/4 lengths.
He kept Artemida off the pace early on as Little MC staved off Aka Bones for the lead though the quarter mile completed in 23.55 seconds.
Bowen took the filly wide through the turn and then made his bid in the stretch, overhauling the leaders with a sixteenth to run, to reach the finish comfortably in a time of one minute, 15.68 seconds.
