The Final Analysis – Sat, April 29, 2023

KINGSTON, Jamaica - It was double success for the recently more successful trainer/jockey combination of Patrick “Wacky” Lynch and Javaniel “Shake Head” Patterson (14) as races nine and 10, the joint features Anybet 10th Anniversary Trophy, restricted to three-year-olds running over 1,200 metres, and the Jamaica Veterinary Board World Vet Day Trophy over 1,600 metres won by Ability (1-5) and Blue Vinyl (3-5), respectively.
Ability, undefeated in two starts, is an impressively conformed colt and dominated proceedings to the top of the home straight before sprinting in by six lengths, while Blue Vinyl, the hero of the 2000 Guineas and St Leger last season, reached the winning post with more than twice that advantage or, to be more precise, 12½ lengths. Surely in the 2023 Futurities, prospectively, Ability will be seeking to emulate or exceed the 2022 successes of Blue Vinyl. With two successes this season already, Blue Vinyl looks a safe bet for another money-spinning season to improve his $9.6-million bankroll.
The opening event, a short sprint over 900 metres straight, gave 5-2 shot Money Marshall the opportunity to revisit the winners’ enclosure after an absence of over two years. Three-kilo claiming jockey Nicholas Hibbert had his first seasonal success from 17 mounts as the Henry Harrison Jr-saddled, seven-year-old bay horse always controlled the pace to score by three-and-a-half lengths.
Half-an-hour later, leading reinsman Tevin “Terrific” Foster (32) collected the gift of the purse of race three on behalf of winning owner Michros and former three-time champion Anthony Nunes. It was a near eight-length romp by Nuclear Noon over the 1,200 metres of the second of the 10 races programmed (2-5).
Speaking of gifts, in race three, Errol Subratie’s Ricky Ricardo (3-5) was similarly fortunate and won by nearly four lengths to give title-chasing jockey Reyan “Action Pack” Lewis (33) the first of three wins on the day and eventually sole leadership in the jockeys’ standings.
Phillip Parchment, whose jockeyship skills deserve far more than his only 60 rides this year, had his fifth seasonal winner in enterprising style. Fastest away from the gates in race four he sent his mount, True Bravado, (5-1), into a clear lead early. Parchment, an athletically gifted rider, kept the US-bred five-year-old horse, trained by Donovan Russell, going to last home by a diminishing head. The race was run over 1,100 metres, and the popular reinsman received an enthusiastic reception from the knowledgeable spectators.
In race five, run at 1,300 metres, it was “Action Pack” Lewis’s time again as the 9-5 bet She’s My Friend turned out to be the first of two wins on the day for champion and leading conditioner Jason DaCosta. DaCosta’s two-timer came at the end of the 1,820-metre seventh event, with maiden Brown Skin Girl (9-5) thoroughly outstaying 10 rivals as she was 11½ lengths clear at the finish for Lewis’s third to end the day one win better than Foster lying second on 32.
It was 17-1 against Phoenix Risen, ridden by Paul Francis (06) in race six, but the Ryan Darby-conditioned, Nadon-owned, four-year-old colt led teasingly with his nearest rival failing by one-and-a-half lengths over the straight 1,000-metre course. Race eight, run at 1,300 metres, was decided in the final strides in a driving finish. AKA Storm (3-1), saddled by Anthony Dixon and ridden by champion Dane “Devastating Dane” Dawkins, scored by a neck with five horses sharing a space of less than one length at the line.
The Training Feat Award is presented to Lynch for the improved performances of Ability and Blue Vinyl. The Best Winning Gallop was displayed by True Bravado (USA), whose connections must acknowledge that this victory was only made possible by the skill set of Phillip Parchment, who is unchallenged for this jockeyship award.