After a rollercoaster series of close calls and disappointment, the Jason DaCosta-trained bay colt Maverick got back into the winner’s enclosure on Saturday, October 3, producing a hard-fought performance to capture the Reggae 6 Anniversary Trophy over six furlongs.
Maverick’s three-year-old campaign leading up to Saturday had been a tale of close finishes punctuated by a sudden lapse in form:
Jamaica Derby (12 Furlongs – Aug 6): Maverick came agonizingly close to Classic glory, suffering a heartbreaking loss by just a short head.
Winston Griffiths Classic (9 ½ Furlongs - Sept 6): Looking to bounce back, he delivered a perplexing, non-factor effort that left onlookers questioning his form.
Over Seven Furlongs (Sept 19): He rebounded with a sharp effort, only to be denied once more by a head in a tight finish against the imported runner Always Bourbon.
Entering the non-winners-of-two contest for three-year-olds on October 3, the son of Aveenu Malcainu out of Midnight In Paris was primed to finally break through.
Despite drawing the widest post position in an 11-horse field, jockey Robert Halledeen quickly went to the inside rails to press the early pace, engaging in an early speed battle with Dashallday (Raddesh Roman).
Maverick gained the upper hand around the turn, shaking off Dashallday to lead the field into the home straight with a narrow advantage.
As Dashallday began to fade (eventually finishing third), God’s Plan (Emelio McLean) launched a powerful late surge down the lane, threatening to run down the leader. However, Halledeen called on every ounce of stamina Maverick had left. Digging deep under strong riding, the colt repelled the late bid to hit the wire a length clear in 1:14.2, behind steady fractions of 23.2, 48.1, and 1:01.0.
The victory marks the second win from seven career starts for Maverick. With this decisive performance, the colt pushed his career earnings to nearly $3 million.
