KINGSTON, Jamaica – The intriguing 2021 trainers’ championship with all its twists and turns seems destined to be determined by the major money earning races on the last two race days of the season (Sunday, December 26, and Monday, December 27).
These races are the Chris Armond Sprint ($2.5 million), the Ian Levy Trophy ($4 million), and the Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes ($4 million).
The contending duo of champion Anthony Nunes and Jason DaCosta, after a tick-tock battle had little between them when the dust settled on the race day of Saturday, December 18.
DaCosta entered the day with a lead of $1,559,895, and at the end of the 11 races had extended his lead by $92,300, (according to official figures). DaCosta with his 71 wins has earned $56,612,505, while Nunes with his 58 wins has earned $54,960,310, giving DaCosta an overall lead of $1,652, 195 ($56,612,505 - $54,960,310), going into today nine-race offering.
Nunes was the first to strike on the Saturday card, when Golden Wattle won the third race with DaCosta finishing fifth with Fly Messenger Fly and sixth with first-time starter Lord of Ekati. Just a reminder that purse money is paid out from positions one to six.
Three races later DaCosta scored with Love Craft, to bridge the cap. Then in the seventh Nunes finished second with Hoist The Mast, while DaCosta’s Super Duper ended in the third spot.
DaCosta went ahead on the day, when It’s A Boy won the ninth with his Heart of the Sea taking the fourth spot, followed in the tenth with Heart of a Lion finishing fourth.
Nunes then had the last say when Oneofakind won the 11th with DaCosta’s Billy Whizz ending in the second slot.
Nunes had five starters on the day with four earning, while DaCosta had eighth starters will all bringing home a purse.
So, it’s on to today with nine races to be contested, let’s see how it with turn out.
Quickgallop.com will, as always, keep you informed.
