'Pure Speight' takes Winter Solstice Handicap, now 4-for-4 in race wins

ST. THOMAS — It was a near thing, but “Pure Speight” came away a winner once again during Sunday’s Festive Finish Races.

Pure Speight made it 4-for-4 in race wins by taking the Winter Solstice Handicap, the main event of the final races of the 2024 season at Clinton E. Phipps Race Track. With jockey Sunday Diaz aboard, Pure Speight took home the lion’s share of the Handicap’s $20,000 purse by edging out “Colbaloaf” and “The Skipper Too” in a dash down the homestretch in the 1 1/16th mile open race.

Pure Speight — owned by St. Croix’s Knight Racing Stables — and Diaz won the feature in 1 minute, 47.2 seconds. Colbaloaf, ridden by Jose Leon, finished second; The Skipper Too, with Joshua Navarro Satiago aboard, came in third.

While Pure Speight took the main event, St. Thomas’ Black Label Racing and jockey Wilfredo Gotay were each three-time winners during the Festive Finish Races. Black Label Racing mounts “Bombastic” won in the third race, a six-furlong feature for mares and fillies; and “My Candy Biz” won the fourth race, a 7½-furlong feature for Class C horses, both with Gotay riding.