TRAINER DELROY WISDOM OFF THE MARK
Trainer Delroy Wisdom saddled his first winner for the 2022 racing season after his charge Storm Valley won the opening event — a three-year-old and upwards Optional Claiming ($250,000-$200,000) spread going 5 ½ furlongs (1,100m).
Ridden by Nicholas Hibbert, Storm Valley was prominent at the off, racing in second place behind Dallas (Jemar Jackson) before taking up the running heading into the half-mile (800m) turn. Approaching the distance, Storm Valley was pressured by Breaking Storm (Tevin Foster) but entered strong on the headline and kept up his work in deep stretch.
Storm Valley got home by three parts of a length from the fast-finishing, rail-running Stormy Lady (Roger Hewitt). Kunama (Shane Richardson) came on for third money. The final time was recorded at 1:11.1.
KHAI ALEXIS SHOWS HER LOVE FOR TWO TURNS
Patience paid off for the connections of Khai Alexis as the four-year-old bay filly notched her third win from 28 starts in a native-bred four-year-old and upwards (non-winners of three) call at 9 furlongs and 25 yards (1,820m).
Khai Alexis was sent straight to the front by jockey Paul Francis with the Ryan Darby trainee holding the lead ahead of Longie Lala (Tevin Foster), Heavenly Glitter (Dane Dawkins) and Wright in Flight (Ramon Nepare) going around the clubhouse turn and onto the main track.
Khai Alexis then began to open up on rivals down the backstretch, stretching her lead with every stride as Longie Lala chased from far behind in second place. Khai Alexis turned for home with a good enough lead and just kept on going and going until the wire intervened.
Khai Alexis won by a widen 14 ½ lengths in a time of 2:00.2 with splits 27.2 x 51.3 x 1:17.2 x 1:44.3. Longie Lala finished in second place, 1 ¾ length ahead of Zion (Oneil Mullings) in third place.
BACK-TO-BACK WINS FOR LAST LICK
Owned and trained by Gordon Lewis and ridden by Chalrick Budhai, Last Lick (Casual Trick – Little Sister) made it two wins in a row in a native-bred five-year-old and upwards (non-winners of two) contest travelling five furlongs straight.
It was a good break for Last Lick as the five-year-old bay horse matched strides with Sensational Satin (Javaniel Patterson) in the early exchanges. The two drew away from the rest of the field in a battle of their own but crossing the dummy rails, Last Lick emerged as the lone leader and began to draw clear of Sensational Satin who had no answers.
Last Lick went on to win by 14 lengths at the line with Sensational Satin getting an easy second place, 5 ¼ lengths ahead of Run Jaya Run (Devon A Thomas) in a close battle for third. The final time for the race was 1:02.2 (23.3 x 47.0).
MAGIC BULLET IN THE NICK OF TIME
Four-year-old bay filly Magic Bullet produced a late run to get up in time to win a native-bred four-year-old and upwards Maiden Condition offering over 7 furlongs (1,400m).
Magic Bullet wasn’t the best to leave the starting gates at the off, but jockey Chris Mamdeen held the Gary Griffiths-conditioned filly in mid-pack down the backstretch and watched as Galway Bay (Omar Simpson), Sparklin Tradition (Omar Walker) and Military Shot (Matthew Bennett) disputed for the lead.
Going into the half-mile, Mamdeen sent down Magic Bullet in third place in chase, as Sparklin Tradition opened up on Military Shot approaching the distance. Turning for home and hugging the inside rails, Magic Bullet came with a surge towards the end of the race to beat Sparklin Tradition by a length and a quarter at the wire. Military Shot was third in a final time of 1:34.3.
TWO HORSES CLAIMED
Only two horses were claimed from the opening event, the lone claiming event on the 10-race card.
Albert Chong claimed winner Storm Valley for owner G Links Connection from Delroy Wisdom while Ryan Williams claimed fourth-place finisher Breaking Storm for owner Dadab71 from Phillip Elliott. Both horses were claimed for $250,000 each.
