Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

VETERAN TRAINER Noel Ennevor posted his third feature race winner in as many racedays when the three-year-old colt, MR BLAIR, got up in the nick of time to win the Jockey Club Stakes over 1400 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday.

Ennevor had previously won the Reggae Trophy grade one feature over the straight five course with MEDICAL REPORT on the previous Saturday and Wednesday's feature for the Royal Crest Trophy with HOMBRE. All three winners had one thing in common - they won in tight finishes.

Installed an 8-5 favourite with Paul 'Country' Francis aboard, MR. BLAIR was outpaced a bit in the eight-horse field as the highly-fancied QUEEN OF MY HEART led under pressure from MAGNIFICO, followed by SHE'S OUTRAGEOUS and the 9-5 second favourite GRACE MARIE.

SHE'S OUTRAGEOUS, running at odds of 20-1 with in-form Dane Nelson aboard, assumed the lead as they swung into the straight and although thwarting a feeble challenge from GRACE MARIE on the inside a furlong out, just failed to hold the fast-finishing MR BLAIR, between horses, at bay.

MR BLAIR won by a neck from SHE'S OUTRAGEOUS, who in turn was two lengths ahead of GRACE MARIE in third.

The winner, a three-year-old chestnut colt by Hail Orphan out of Brown Sugar, is owned by Melvin O. Lawes and bred by himself and Dale Murphy. This was MR BLAIR's fifth win from 11 starts this season. Later in the afternoon, NASATOL (11-1) defied top weight of 57kg to win the open allowance race over the straight in a driving finish from the fleet-footed American filly EXPLOSIVE PEAK (9-5) and the subsequently disqualified RIGMAROLE (8-1).

Chance ride

Trained by Robert Darby Sr for owner Clive Duncan, NASATOL, a chance ride for Panamanian jockey Ameth Robes, found himself outpaced in the rear as RIGMAROLE and EXPLOSIVE PEAK had a battle royal for the lead in mid-track, just ahead of MINISTEROFFINANCE. However, NASATOL produced a devastating last furlong run to catch EXPLOSIVE PEAK stealing home under Dane Nelson by a neck. Bred by Kim Cooper, the remarkable 7-y-o grey gelding by Pat N Jac out of Extraordinaire has now won 21 races from 66 starts and $6.6 million in stakes.

Champion jockey Omar Walker (Guiding Light, Forever Mine), Devon A. Thomas (My Space and 29-1 outsider Goingtokansascity) and Carlton Malcolm (Keeler, High Roller) shared the riding honours with two winners each, while leading all-time jockey Winston 'Fanna' Griffiths, who recently turned 50, chalked up his 1,571st career win aboard 4-5 favourite THEDIVINEKING in the second race for maiden three-year-olds.

Walker starts a two-day suspension on Wednesday for careless riding on September 27.