KINGSTON, Jamaica - The customary opener for the annual three-year-old Classic campaign kicks off on Saturday, February 1, 2025, with the staging of the Eight Thirty Sprint.
This maiden special weight contest listed as the fourth of ninth is exclusively for fillies, covering 5 furlongs straight.
A field of 10 fillies will vie for top honours, each seeking to make a statement in the first major event of the season.
The Quick Galloper’s assessment is given below for the perusal of readers on this website.
1 - NATIVE FLYER is a bay filly (March 25) by Successful Native out of Polly Flyer, under the guidance of trainer Steven Todd with jockey Emiio McLean. Having had two previous outings without notable performances, Native Flyer may struggle to compete with stronger horses in this race. This event marks her first-time racing without a tongue tie and with Lasix.
2 - WOOGIEWAGGIELINKS is a bay filly (February 6) by Casual Trick out of Global, trained by Barrington Bernard and ridden by Phillip Parchment. As a newcomer to the track, she has displayed average form during practice sessions. Although she may not be seen as a top contender, this experience will be beneficial for her growth.
3 - QUEEN LATEPHA is a bay filly (April 5) by Casual Trick out of Gold Prince, trained by Gregg Fennell with Ismael Velasquez as her jockey. Unfortunately, Queen Latepha’s credentials do not meet the expectations required for success in this event, making her a contender likely to be overlooked.
4 - REPORTABLE OFFENSE is a bay filly by Deputy Glitters out of Official Report, also trained by Steven Todd, with Paul Francis in the saddle. She faces strong competition and may find it challenging to break into the top rankings. Reportable Offense will be racing for the first time with Lasix.
5 - LADY BABITA is a chestnut filly by Soul Warrior out of Lady Abhijita, trained by Matthew Williams and ridden by Tevin Foster. Following a decent debut on December 24, 2024, where she finished third, Lady Babita appears ready to improve. Facing a familiar competitor, Margarita, could potentially enhance her performance in pursuit of her first victory.
6 - LINGUIST is a bay filly (February 5) by Aveenu Malcainu out of Bilingual, under the guidance of trainer Anthony Nunes with Shane Ellis as the jockey. Having secured fourth place in her prior two races, she shows promise based on recent training. Linguist might deliver a solid performance, racing with a figure eight.
7 - LIFE IS LIGHT is a chestnut filly (February 10) by Hedge Fund out of Necromancer, trained by Gary Griffiths and ridden by Youville Pinnock. Her opportunities for a winning performance seem limited, with chances leaning towards finishing in a lower position.
8 - MARGARITA is a chestnut filly (April 19) by Aveenu Malcainu out of Casual Drink, under trainer Gary Subratie and with jockey Dane Dawkins aboard. Having finished second in her last outing, Margarita is expected to leverage her speed on this course and could compete for a top position in this race.
9 - DUTCHESS is a bay filly (April 3) by Casual Trick out of Curlin’s MacBeth, trained by Anthony Nunes with Omar Walker as the designated rider. Dutchess is an intriguing competitor, showing good preparation leading up to this event and possessing potential to surprise the field.
10 - MONEY MISSION is a bay filly (April 9) by Casual Trick out of Daisy Duke, trained by Oral Hayden and ridden by Javaniel Patterson. Currently, she is not considered a strong contender for the victory in this race.
