Andrew Ramgeet - file
chester west virginia (cmc)
Top Jamaican jockey Andrew Ramgeet produced a stirring ride aboard the four-year-old filly Ballad of Bertie and won the Golden Sylvia Stakes at Mountaineer Park on Tuesday evening.
Ballad of Bertie, a little fancied 14-to-1 bet in the nine-horse field, won the US$75,000 event over a mile by a head under the three-time Jamaica champion jockey.
Trained by Jeffrey Greenhill for owner Sherri Greenhill, Ballad of Bertie clocked one minute 38.60 seconds in victory.
Splendidly paced by Ramgeet down the backstretch while the 11-2 chance Ella Belle led the field ahead of Stormy Amber (2-1) and the 3-2 favourite It's True Love, Ballad of Bertie advanced decisively leaving the far turn and surged at the leaders.
Stormy Amber had shot into the lead but as the field swung into the final turn, Ballad of Bertie collared her and engaged her in a tense stretch-drive battle.
Ramgeet and Ballad of Bertie proved stronger in deep stretch for the narrow victory.
Currently fifth in the jockeys' standings with 33 wins, Ramgeet is trailing runaway leader Rex Stokes (85), Dana Whitney (55), Oswald Pereira (54), Deshawn Parker (46).
Ramgeet is enjoying one of his better seasons since leaving Jamaica's Caymanas Park during the 1990s.
In April, he won the Angenora Stakes at Thistledown in Ohio, aboard Pay The Man.