As the 2026 Racing Year in Jamaica settles into its routine, today, the third of the season, had no major trophy event on the programme of ten races.
The winner of the opener, Flybluejet (8-5), saddled by Rudolph Hardial and ridden by two-time champion Raddesh Roman, won the six-furlong gallop by four lengths for trainer Hardial to open his seasonal account.
Linton Steadman, although seemingly suffering some physical discomfiture, was able to pilot the three-year-old debutant, Dashallday (9-1), schooled by former three-time champion Anthony Nunes, from last to win the five-furlong round second event by a neck.
Fresh from his fourth-place finish in the Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes, champion Jason DaCosta, to point to a possible double, saddled 7-5 bet Bigger Boss (Tevin Foster) to score in the seven-furlong third event.
Apprentice Jaheim Anderson commenced his best day in the saddle in race four, run at nine furlongs and 25 yards, when Joyful Surprise (6-1), was turned out in front running form by former jockey Tensang Chung to dominate the entire gallop and outstay the vainly pursuing rivals by two lengths.
As if by design, with Anderson riding his first of three on the day, the next five races were won by riders with the same status. Race five went to Okoye Warrior (5-2), partnered by Nicardo Carr for long-serving trainer Randolph Scott. The six-year-old mare, a progeny of Soul Warrior, made all to score by two lengths over the maximum straight course officially deemed to be sloppy after a heavy downpour lasting around ten minutes.
In race six, also run on the five-furlong maximum straight course, for his fourth winner in three race days, Shavon Townsend was astride ten-length runaway Coalition (1-1) for trainer Dale Murphy.
On the straight course again, Anderson was back in the winners’ enclosure for his second, with the Cashbert Khwalsingh declared Gelroy, prevailing by a length at odds of 11-1.
Anderson confirmed his three-timer over the four furlongs of the straight course in race seven, with four-year-old maiden gelding Skill At Arms, favourite at 6-5, conditioned by Captain Marlon Brown, just over one length in front of pesky competitive rival Abhay (2/1).
As a rider, Anderson is a promising reinsman with his posture, temperament, balance, judgment of pace, and inclination not to resort to his whip set him apart from many, even at this early stage of his fledgling career.
The claiming apprentice successes came to an end in race nine with Jason DaCosta sealing a double as Tevin Foster, for the first of a two-timer of his own, had American Aviator (1-2) always clear to claim the seven-furlong race nine by just over seven lengths.
To close his double, Foster was required to utilize the full extent of his skill set to get 14-1 shot Laurie, to land the tenth and final event by a half a length at the end of the seven-furlong trip for the Fitznahum Williams’ stable.
