KINGSTON, Jamaica - JASON DaCosta, the current leading trainer at Caymanas Park, continued to make his mark on the international racing circuit after saddling Free Sailin in the US$75,000 Robert G Leaitt Stakes at Charles Town racetrack in West Virginia, United States, on Saturday.
Ridden by Angel Diaz, Free Sailin, who was sent off at odds of 7/2, easily won the Black Type event for registered, accredited,West Virginia-bred three-year-olds over seven furlongs, by 2¼ lengths. Free Sailin won the contest in a time of 1:27.46 on a sloppy racing surface.
Also owned by DaCosta, Free Sailin was unable to go with the early leaders but saved ground close to the pace on the inside rails. The three-year-old bay gelding closed the gap from the three-eighths pole and raced off the rails on the far turn before turning for home three wide for drive. Free Sailin responded well in the closing stages to win going away from favourite Jungle Beast (Antonio Lopez) and Stormin Rocket (Andre Ramgeet).
DaCosta, who had started to train horses on the North American racing circuit in 2009, has now saddled 415 winners, 386 seconds and 336 third place finishes from 2,543 starts.
Five-time Jamaica champion jockey Trevor “Slicer” Simpson also had a good day overseas on Saturday with two winners, including the Bill Kinch-conditioned Anello in the Marathon Series Stakes at Grand Prairie in Texas.
Simpson guided home Anello to a comfortable 5½-length win in the Thoroughbred Claiming Series event for three-year-olds and upwards over one mile in a time of 1:41.65. Finishing in second and third places were Jamaicans Orlando Foster aboard Rowdyrooster and Larris Allen on favourite Turnaround.
Simpson’s other winner was atop Fireflower in the first race for trainer Jim Depew, over four furlongs.
Foster and Allen had one winner each on the day.
