The opening event of the nine races offered on the Sunday card was won by 6-5 bet favourite Benson partnered by leading reinsman Tevin Foster for the opener of his riding double.
Bred and owned by New Blue Limited and trained by Fitznahum Williams, the four-year-old bay colt was always in control of the pace over the 1100 metres and scored by five lengths.
Race two was contested over 1200 metres and winner at 5-2 Wall Street Trader (USA), signaled the start of one of Robert Halledeen’s best day in the saddle this season. Conditioned by Rohan Mathie, the five-year-old importee dominated the early fractions to be over three lengths clear at the finish for Halledeen’s first of four on the day.
In a field of six running over 1000 metres straight, winner Queen Zan was weakly supported at 12-1. However, she raced gamely with two-kilo claimer Shane Richardson to wear down leader Chitu Prince (USA). The six-year-old mare prevailed by three parts of a length for trainer Barrington Bernard to win race three.
To secure his second, Halledeen was predictably back in the winners’ enclosure following the victory of Life Is Life (2-5) the 1500-metre fourth event. This horse Life Is Life (2-5) of higher quality, was claimed by trainer Ricardo Brown for a tag of $550,000.
The three-year-old colt toyed with the older opposition in a three-length victory for champion trainer Jason DaCosta’s first of three on the day.
In race five, former six-time champion Omar Walker guided even money favourite Boss Izzy to victory by three parts of a length over the 1100-metre course for trainer Howard Bailey’s first career success.
Maiden three-year-old filly Tappinin (Oneil Mullings), bet at 24/1 won race six, run at 1000 metres straight, for veteran trainer Barrington Dawes.
Race seven, a Restricted Stakes run over 1100 metres, had an interesting outcome. Favourite at 2-5, She’s A Godgift (USA) led early with Foster deemed by the Stewards to have failed to keep a straight course and caused three rivals including winner US-bred Chocomo (2-1) to be herded towards inside rails. Disqualified from finishing second by just under two lengths, the American filly was placed fifth and last.
Chocomo (USA) was the third winner for Halledeen and the second for DaCosta on the card. Halledeen closed his four-timer in the 800-metre straight nightcap with Steven Todd’s maiden filly She’s That Girl (2-5).
It was a game debut by this progeny sired by Sensational Slam to score by a nose, the minimum winning margin. Halledeen required to deploy the full range of his skill set to win.
Featured on the programme was the third renewal of the colts and geldings Kingston Grade II over 1500 metres and run as race eight. For DaCosta’s third, Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes and Prince Consort hero Interestintimesahead (1-5) confirmed his current superiority over his peers by a margin of just over four lengths.
Once again for his third second season appearance, Interestintimesahead, the juvenile champion was turned out in unbeatable condition by DaCosta for his stable’s third of the day and Foster’s second winning mount. Second past the post, Captain Sparrow (5-1) schooled by Anthony Nunes, was six lengths better than Prince Consort runner-up Crown Chaser and will be a definite threat to Interestintimesahead the Classics.
