KINGSTON, Jamaica – Santorini came with a compelling late thrust - racing with the tongue tie off - to win the inaugural staging of the 9 ½ furlong – Winston “Fanna” Griffiths Classic which was the Caymanas Saturday ninth.
The Winston Griffiths Classic was a Graded Stakes event for three-year-olds only who did not win a Grade One race previously and it was the first time that horses at Caymanas Park were running over the distance of 9 ½ furlongs.
Jockey Linton Steadman atop Santorini for champion trainer Anthony Nunes bided his time racing in fifth place for most of the race as the early splits were set by Ianzha Links (Anthony Thomas) followed by Regal and Royal (Tevin Foster), Big Jule (Omar Walker) and Billy Whizz (Dick Cardenas).
Ianzha Links carried the field on the backstretch with the same horses close-by. Leaving the four-furlong marker the pace quickened as Big Jule started to challenge while Cardenas took Billy Whizz for a clear run on the rails. All this time Steadman was watching and waiting.
Turning home for the last two furlongs there was little to choose but noticeably Steadman switched Santorini from the inside to the middle of the track (on the outside of the front runners).
Quickly, Santorini (Soul Warrior – Milestone) got into his best stride but out of the clouds came the filly Secret Identity (Youville Pinnock) with a massive spurt while Billy Whizz gathered himself to eventually snatch second with Secret Identity finishing third.
Of note is that Santorini was the only starter on the day saddled by Nunes.
Given the fact that Santorini was winning the first ever 9 ½ furlong race in Jamaica his winning time of 2:02.1 is a track record.
| RACE 9***WINSTON "FANNA" GRIFFITHS ***NB3YO GRADED STAKES 1900M/9-1/2FUR 3:05 PM | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| POS | NO. | HORSE | JOCKEY | ODDS | WIN | PLACE | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 9 | Santorini | Linton Steadman | 9-1 | $514.00 | $101.00 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | 3 | Billy Whizz | Dick Cardenas | 1-1 | $61.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | 6 | Secret Identity | Youville Pinnock | 33-1 | $287.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | 1 | Daddy Jones | Robert Halledeen | 17-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | 2 | Ianzha Links | Anthony Thomas | 25-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| TRAINER: Anthony Nunes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Splits: 25.3 x 50.1 x 1:14.1 x 1:40.1 - Final Time: 2:02.1 - Margins: 1 1/4 by 1/2 - 9 RAN | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ex: $1,644 | T/Fecta: $7,477 | Triple: $2,207 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| D/E: $985 | Pick-5: $19,625.50 | Place Pot: $1,019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hi-5: c/o $102,246.75 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
