COLORADO RANGER GETS THE JOB DONE
Four-year-old bay colt Colorado Ranger dropped down in class to win a three-year-old and upwards Optional Claiming ($550,000-$450,000) event for native-bred five-year-olds and upwards and for five-year-old and up foreigners (non-winners of four) over one mile (1,600m).
Ridden by Shane Ellis for trainer Gary Griffiths, Colorado Ranger settled in mid-pack at the break and down the backstretch as Dracarys (Odeen Edwards) led the field ahead of Sebastian (Dane Dawkins) and Biblical Legend (Christopher Mamdeen).
Colorado Ranger came into view at the half-mile (800m) when he slipped down into third place going into the turn behind Dracarys and Sebastian. With the momentum going his way, Colorado Ranger hit the front full of running at the top of the lane and drew clear to win by 4½ lengths.
Above Hall Links (Anthony Thomas) came on well for second money ahead of Nala’s Bushman (Reyan Lewis) in third place. The final time for the event was 1:44.1.
EASY DOES IT FOR STALLWALKIN’GIRL
Trained by Errol Subratie and ridden by Devon A Thomas, Stallwalkin’girl easily won a three-year-old and upwards Optional Claiming ($250,000-$200,000) call over one mile.
Stallwalkin’girl broke prominently at the start and raced in third place close to the pace behind Devine Lexie (Phillip Parchment) and Whatever (Roger Hewitt) passing the seven-furlong (1,400m) pole. Whatever slipped through to pick up the lead at the six-furlong (1,200m) with Stallwalkin’girl attached to her outside, as the two drew clear from the rest of the field.
Going into the half-mile turn, Stallwalkin’girl surged to the front and began to open up on Whatever. Turning for home with a clear lead, Stallwalkin’girl went on to win the event by 16½ lengths in a time of 1:45.0. Whatever came home second place, some 8 1⁄2 lengths ahead of Devine Lexie who finished in third place.
LAST LICK RETURNS WITH A BANG AFTER LONG LAYOFF
The Gordon Lewis-conditioned five-year-old bay mare Last Lick returned from a break of 999 days and easily brushed aside rivals in a native-bred five-year-old and upwards maiden condition race over four furlongs (800m).
Last Lick (Casual Trick – Little Sister), ridden by Chalrick Budhai, didn’t show any signs of distress as she disputed the early with Montgomery (Ruja Lahoe), who was coming off a 16-month break. Passing the dummy rails for the last two furlongs (400m), Last Lick emerged as the lone leader and drew clear to win by a city block at the wire.
Last Lick won by 22 ¼ lengths ahead of Avery and Ayan (Roger Hewitt) and Dr Sahir Alexander (Paul Francis) in a time of 48.1.
THE GIFTED ONE OFF THE MARK AFTER EQUIPMENT CHANGE
The Gifted One, running with the visor off but with blinkers on and the first-time application of Lasix, made one move to win a native-bred, three-year-old maiden condition race for horses who did not finish second and/or third in a non-restricted maiden race lifetime over four furlongs (800m).
With Jerome Innis riding for trainer Phillip Lee, The Gifted One (Buzz Nightmare – Venice Mellesa) shot to the front when the gates opened and held the lead ahead of Dream of Paris (Andre Powell) in the early exchanges.
Coming across the dummy rails, The Gifted One injected some pace into the race and scampered away to score by a length and a half, winning ahead of Edina Marsh (Samantha Fletcher) and Dream of Paris in a time of 47.2.
EIGHT HORSES CLAIMED
In the first race, Junior Small claimed Nala's Bushman for owner Barrington Bernard from Gregory Forsyth. Byron Davis claimed Biblical Legend for owner Baldwin Williams from Ian Alexander, and Lincoln Lungs claimed Colorado Ranger for owner Courtney Thorpe from Gary Griffiths. All three horses were claimed for $550,000 each.
Joseph Durrant claimed Whatever for owner Ricardo Durrant from Ryan Williams for $250,000 and Donovan Plummer claimed Devine Lexie for owner Glendon Drummond from Keffin Murray, also for $250,000, from the second race.
In the ninth race Gary Crawford claimed Fault Line for owner Colshar Limited from Philip Feanny for $800,000, Jason DaCosta claimed Azaria for owner Elizabeth DaCosta from Anthony Nunes for $1 million, and Phillip Elliott claimed Baton Rouge for owner Andrew Elliott from Leroy Tomlinson for $1 million.
