Calculus Gets His Due As Champion Stayer

KINGSTON, Jamaica - FOLLOWING Calculus’s inspiring victory in the $1.5-million Miracle Man Cup feature race over 9½ furlongs (1,900m) on Saturday, February 25, 2023, trainer Gary Subratie said his five-year-old bay horse is worthy of wearing the crown of champion stayer for his brilliance in long-distance races.

Calculus, ridden by Robert Halledeen, produced his customary late run to win the Graded Stakes/Open Allowance for three-year-olds and upwards by 2 1/4 lengths. He came home in a time of 2:02.0 (25.3 x 50.4 x 1:15.4 x 1:41.0).

“He [Calculus] earned the title of champion stayer; I think he deserved it the previous year also.  I think it was a poor decision by the voting panel not to choose him champion stayer in 2021 after winning the Jamaica Derby and St Leger. I think they made a mistake then, but that is life, Calculus is now the worthy champion stayer, “ Subratie stated in his post-race interview.

Commenting on his brilliant filly Atomica, who was voted Horse of the Year, Subratie said it was also a pleasing moment for the stables.

“I mean, I am so pleased with that filly and I am so proud of her winning the Horse of the Year title. I think she deserved it.

“She broke four stakes records and one track record, and you can’t ask for much more from a racehorse — especially after winning the Jamaica Derby,” he said.

Calculus sat in second place for most of the way, behind leader Lure of Lucy (Jordan Barrett) who took the field around the clubhouse turn and on to the main track with a relaxed lead. King Arthur (Omar Walker) and Miniature Man (Oshane Nugent) settled behind the leaders down the backstretch.

The victor maintained his gallop well until leaving the three-eighth marker at which time he pointed on Lure of Lucy and King Arthur, who was hard-ridden to keep up with the leaders on the outside. Turning for home with the lead, Calculus responded well to the urgings of Halledeen by turning on the afterburners to skip clear for an easy win at the wire. King Arthur finished in second place and Positive ID, under Prince “Daggerman” Holder, came home in third place.

“His last three races last year were poor efforts, and that was because Calculus had some issues that we were just trying to patch him up for the races and it just wasn’t working, and so we decided to give him a break and run him back in February or March of this year,  and he did well today,” said Subratie.

“It was an excellent performance by him to win. For a horse that hasn’t run in about two months, going this distance showed that he’s got a lot of heart. The plan was to go out early as you can’t allow the filly [Lure of Lucy] to just go about her business, and so we have to attack her early as that was the only option. I knew they would stalk us with King Arthur but I figured that we would get away, which we did,” Subratie added.