KINGSTON, Jamaica - With no significant traditional or otherwise trophy event scheduled on the 11-race programme, promoting company Supreme Ventures Racing & Entertainment Ltd used the opportunity to showcase the products and departments, with staff members making presentations to the winning trainers and/or owners throughout the meet.
The feature Pari-Mutuel Trophy was staged as the 10th event engaging Open Allowance campaigners over the 1,000-metre straight course. There were half a dozen declarations, and the Anthony Nunes-conditioned US-bred filly Go Deh Girl (2/1) had her five rivals in trouble when hard-held on the bridle in early pursuit of speedster and favourite God of Love.
To secure his second winner on the day, Tevin Foster asked Go Deh Girl for the final sprint and the response was immediate as the four-year old dark bay won by nearly five lengths gearing down.
For Foster the first of success on the day came in the opening 1,200-metre event with Norman Smith’s Maggie’s Boy always clear of nine other maidens to register a six and a quarter length margin of victory.
Free-scoring nine-year-old Papa Albert (3-5) duly justified favouritism narrowly by three parts of a length over long-time pursuer The Nextbigting (Dick Cardenas) to establish new career figures of 16 wins from 57 appearances. Jockey Reyan Lewis may have been little surprised that the old battler, trained by Shaun Williams had to work so hard for this success.
Although having failed on May 14 to complete his previous event due to apparent lameness, Steven Todd saddled eight-year-old Bruce Wayne (3-1) for the 1,200-metre third race to win the first of his two on the day. This horse has developed a distinct preference for the handling of Aaron Chartrie who, from being aboard in nine of its last eleven races conjured three victories and three second-place finishes. This victory was delivered by ten and a half lengths and Chatrie had more success to come later.
The trend of the success of aging horses continued and came to an end in the fourth run at 1,600 metres. Even money favourite Another Bullet, a former top-class campaigner now ten years old, demonstrated he has retained enough ability to win for a tag of $750,000 but only secured victory by three pats of a length. Saddled by Patrick Lynch and ridden by title-chasing Dane Dawkins Another Bullet’s career record now reads 14 successes from 79 declarations.
Champion Anthony Thomas had his good form extended with Triple Seven (5-1) closing the Steven Todd double with the five-year-old mare seizing the advantage 750 metres out and never looking likely to be caught over the last 300 of the fifth race sprint on the round course and won by nearly two lengths. Thomas having shot to the top of the jockeys’ standings with six wins over the last three race days was slated for further success on this card.
Curiously named maiden three-year-old filly Aava Jaelyn finished best at odds of 23-1 scoring by a length and a half under the guidance of apprentice Roger Hewitt over the 1,200 metres of the sixth event restricted to three year olds. Saddled by Donovan Thompson, the little chestnut having been slowly into stride in her three previous career starts did nothing wrong and was able to wear down the leaders with a convincing late flourish on this occasion.
Pass the Booze (2-1), ridden by 2019 champion Christopher Mamdeen and prepared by Donovan Russell, sprinted to a nine-length romp over the 1,100 metres of the afternoon’s seventh.
While in the eighth, débutante No Surrender (5-2) schooled by David Lee Sin closed a double for Aaron Chatrie with a promisingly smooth stretch to win by nearly two lengths.
Artesia (3-5) with Dick Cardenas astride was welcomed to the winners’ enclosure by trainer Richard Azan after a seven-length demoralisation of rivals in the 1,100-metre ninth event.
To close the card, even money favourite Double Diva (USA) the newest turf star with Thomas seeking double success was in control of the early gallop. She scooted clear entering the last 200 metres to score convincingly over the 1,400 metres of the nightcap for Overnight campaigners. Trained by Jason DaCosta, the progressive and talented front runner has now won four of five starts with a winning margin now averaging seven lengths per race.
