KINGSTON, Jamaica - God of Love, a seven-year-old bay gelding, won his first race of the season after five appearances in the $1.14-million Midnight Angel Trophy, an Overnight Allowance call for three-year-olds and up run over 5 ½ furlongs (1,100m) on Saturday, July 1, 2023.
Bred by Adore The Gold out of Shanda D, God of Love, ridden by champion jockey Dane Dawkins, made one move to take the major slice of the purse by 3 ¼ lengths ahead of Lure of Lucy and Inspire Force in a time of 1:06.3.
God of Love’s trainer Rowan Mathie was certain that his charge would have won the event.
“That was easy. It was an easy win for God of Love. God of Love at Overnight Allowance will always be easy. He is seven years old and so we have to take time with him. He will probably go to the Open Allowance level but right now we just taking it easy with him,” Mathie said in his post-race interview.
God of Love got a solid start and rapidly took the lead, followed by Lure of Lucy (Reyan Lewis), Taurus Boy (Oneil Mullings), and Tevin Foster’s mount, Curlin’s Affair.
As they approached the half-mile (800m) turn, God of Love increased the tempo and began to open up on Lure of Lucy and company. He entered the lane with the advantage, and then went home effortlessly.
Dawkins also claimed that God of Love had an easy time.
“God of Love ran well. The plan was to get a good break, find the lead and ride the race from there. He broke well and control the race from there,” Dawkins said.
