The 32nd staging of the seven-furlong Prince Consort Graded Stakes, restricted to three-year-old colts and geldings and the Thornbird Graded Stakes for fillies of the same age group over the similar distance shared the spotlight as races four and five respectively on a programme of ten races.
Unlike most of the season’s past, both outcomes have posed more questions than answers related to depth of the scope and talent bred into this crop of 2023 foals.
Unraced at two-years old and starting for only the third occasion Runaway Star (1-1), schooled by champion Jason DaCosta was waited-with to the three-furlong marker. Once off the bridle, the strapping colt quickened to lead two furlongs out and eventually was a length in front of chief rival Honour Prince at the winning post.
Honour Prince (9-2), ridden by Phillip Parchment for the stable of Robert Pearson, had his ground taken approaching the one-furlong marker. Runaway Star, who responded greenly to a right-handed whip, edged left and into the path of rail-running Honour Prince whose momentum was severely interrupted forcing Parchment to take evasive action.
The inevitable Stewards Inquiry and jockey’s objection resulted in a reversal of the placings. The victory celebration of champion Raddesh Roman was obviously muted as he recognized that the inexperienced response of Runaway Star to the whip was costly. However, based on a strong closing rally after altering course to be only a one length loser, it could be argued objectively that without the incident Honour Prince would have been the winner.
Lightly-weighted Hansa (9-2) and toting only 109 lbs scored in the Thornbird Stakes by nearly two lengths over 7-2 choice Jason DaCosta’s Social Aviator (Robert Halledeen) with trainer Richard Azan also saddling third past the post Danka (9-1).
Hansa was piloted by claimer Tajay Suckoo, who secured a riding double with Fearless Force (USA) a winner of the seven-furlong race nine at odds of 3-5 favourite. Next in the series of Futurities will be The Kingston and The Portmore for colts/geldings and the opposite sex respectively but no clear favourites emerged today.
Fearless Force (USA) turned out to be the closing leg of a stable double for trainer Philip Feanny with race eight, over a similar trip to that of race nine going to 8-5 bet Impressive Force (USA) scoring by just over three lengths with Raddesh Roman at the reins.
Jerome Innis rode Lord Of Ajahlon (7-2) for trainer Joseph Thomas to saddle the winner of the opening event run at five and a half furlongs.
In race two, US-bred Tigeramedat (4-5) won the seven-and-half furlongs gallop by just over one length with Shane Ellis aboard.
In race three over the five furlongs straight course, The Hot Dancer(1-5), schooled by Fitznahum Williams is undefeated after two appearances winning on this occasion by over 12 lengths following up on a near ten-length romp six days earlier.
The Hot Dancer was piloted by hot-to-trot recent Jamaica Racing Commission Jockey School graduate Richie Shakes, whose ninth winner to date this season and the tenth of his career reduces his weight claim from nine pounds plus to seven.
Galopin De Veloz (9-5) ridden by infrequently engaged reinsman Oniel Scott got home by a half a length in the six-furlong race six for owner/trainer Louis Richards.
Cosalivin, declared by Gregg Fennell and bet at 3-1 with claimer Emelio McLean in the saddle, ended a run of four second place finishes with a romp of over eight lengths to exit the ranks of the maiden three-year-olds after the eight-furlongs of the seventh event.
It was 15-1 against trainer Edward Stanberry’s My Sunshine (Paul Francis), who scored in the nightcap by a shorthead. This was a desperate late three-way scramble for the line with runner-up Undisclosdlocation (8-1) being shortheaded and third place Cryptogirl merely a nose short of second place.
