Top Priority Racing Stables Completes Perfect Three-Win
Top Priority Racing Stables, owned by Lesmore Smith, swept its three races at the Clinton E. Phipps Sr. Racetrack in Estate Bovoni, St. Thomas on July 5, with Kelvin Smith training and jockey Winston Hurst Jr. aboard each winner, according to Guavaberry and VINO. The card also saw late scratches from Ghostinyou and Fighting Back in the feature Lieutenant Governor’s Cup, which was won by Neural Network (VINO).
Top Priority Racing Stables enjoyed a near-flawless day at the Clinton E. Thomas on July 5, sweeping the three races in which its horses competed, Guavaberry reported. The Tortola-based stable, owned by Lesmore Smith, produced all three winners with Kelvin Smith listed as trainer and Winston Hurst Jr. riding each mount.
The streak began in Race 2, a seven-furlong event for mares and fillies carrying a $10,000 purse. Skull Legend, trained by Kelvin Smith and ridden by Winston Hurst Jr., settled behind the early pace set by Mean Town of Wild Times SS Stables before making a strong move down the backstretch to win in 1:28.
Mean Town finished second, followed by Keen Beauty and Irish Prophecy. After the race Hurst told Virgin Islands News Online, "She is a distance horse. She doesn’t have much speed, so my best shot was to stay close and make my move. That was exactly what I did, and we prevailed," underscoring the patient ride that produced the victory (VINO).
Top Priority’s momentum continued in Race 3, the 7½-furlong Class D contest with a $10,500 purse, where Highly Noted executed a gate-to-wire performance. Also under Kelvin Smith’s training and with Hurst in the irons, Highly Noted led from the break and held off a late challenge from Zaga to cross the wire in 1:35.
Guavaberry’s coverage notes the decisive nature of that win and the steadiness of the stable’s runners throughout the day. The treble was completed in the final event, the Emancipation Day Sprint over seven furlongs with an $18,000 purse. Laser Sharp, again prepared by Kelvin Smith and piloted by Winston Hurst Jr., tracked early leader Valued Cajun of Truville Racing before making a bid approaching the stretch and edging clear to win by a neck.
Valued Cajun held second, Sound of the Beast of Black Label Racing was third, debutant Carico of Champion Racing Stables ran fourth and Mundo Mix of St. The card included notable late developments affecting the feature race. Ghostinyou, the 2024 Governor’s Cup champion campaigned by Top Priority Racing Stables, was entered for the Lieutenant Governor’s Cup but was withdrawn after sustaining an injury, according to Kelvin Smith (VINO).
Kenny Francis’s Fighting Back was also scratched from the feature. Neural Network went on to win the Lieutenant Governor’s Cup (VINO). Jockey Winston Hurst Jr. rode in all three winner’s saddles and was aboard Top Priority’s runners for the day’s key races, highlighting the growing depth and competitiveness of local stables and riders.
The perfect three-win showing by Lesmore Smith’s Top Priority Racing Stables — reported by Guavaberry and confirmed in race results covered by VINO — will be watched closely by BVI owners and trainers as they prepare for upcoming regional meets.
Primary source: VINO