Foster opens Reggae 6 with quick double

TEVIN Foster won the first two Reggae 6 events on Saturday, opening with CHARMING CHATTERBOX for Robert Pearson, running away from three-year-old maidens at five and a half furlongs, the first of three short-priced favourites, resulting in a $26,691 payout from a $4,320 outlay touted in THE WEEKEND STAR.

Assiniboia Downs-based Foster landed the second event aboard Ryan Darby's January 31 claim, EAZY PEAZY, rousing the 7-2 chance to overhaul SASH ON with two-time reigning champion jockey, Raddesh Roman, before holding off late-charging AWESOME ANTHONY with Anthony Thomas at six furlongs.

Touted as the banker of the day, Gary Subratie's United States-bred FOUR THIRTY, won at odds of 7-5, reverting to middle-distance of seven and a half furlong in the third after being outsped in consecutive sprint races.

KING PYE wore down 2-1 favourite BLU SENSATION to land the fourth at odds of 5-2 before TAPPININ easily won the fifth as a 3-5 favourite.

Journeyman jockey Everton Miller steered debutante TREASURE ISLES to an easy win at odds of 3-1, closing the Reggae 6.

Meanwhile, Mouttet Mile veteran, United States-bred PACK PLAYS, completed back-to-back grade-one victories by wiring GIRVANO in the Chairman's Trophy at seven and a half furlongs, three weeks after similarly landing the Eileen Cliggott Memorial.

PACK PLAYS remained unbeaten in two starts this season after closing last year with a fourth-place run behind Mouttet Mile runner-up LEGACY ISLE in the December 27 Chris Armond Sprint.

Revelling in the absence of big grade-one guns such as Mouttet Mile winner, RIDEALLDAY, and LEGACY ISLE, both still resting up after the December 6 event, PACK PLAYS, who had placed sixth for a second consecutive year in the US$300,000 race, again toyed with the second-eleven.

Displaying the form he had used to challenge LEGACY ISLE on the lead in the Mouttet Mile, staying third to the last half-furlong after winner RIDEALLDAY went by early in the stretch run, six-year-old PACK PLAYS was never tested by CALIFORNIA CROWN, the intended rabbit for GIRVANO.

Ridden by Christopher Mamdeen, PACK PLAYS won by almost eight lengths in 1:31.0 for Rowan R Mathie, the second time in three days the pair was combining for a feature-race win after defying the handicaps with WALL STREET TRADER in the midweek Ash Wednesday Trophy.

February's month of racing closes on Saturday with a Kwik 4 mandatory payout.