Featured on the nine-race programme, and run as race seven, was the 2025 renewal of the Graded Stakes/Open Allowance Eileen Cliggott Memorial Trophy over six and a half furlongs. The lack of citations is seemingly permanent as over the last three years the official form book has abandoned its obligation to provide information on the personnel or horses in whose honour feature events are staged.
This is just a measure of the downward trend of local horse racing in more respects as the regulators and the promoters have all but abandoned the responsibility of preserving the history and tradition of the sport.
Mrs Eileen Cliggott, a British horsewoman, migrated to Jamaica in the very early sixties. With the support of her patron, the late Alexander Hamilton former President of the Jockey Club and owner of Caymanas Estates, she became a top conditioner and saddled many outstanding thoroughbreds including 1965 Derby winner Rumpelstiltskin.
Saddled by Ricardo Mathie and partnered by Ismael Valasquez, Pack Plays (7-5) favourite, starting with the weight allotment heavily in his favour at 115 pounds, led the Eileen Cliggott field early and was soon clear of two-time Horse-Of-The-Year (2022-23) Atomica. Eventually, this mare now six-years-old could only finish seven and a half lengths third under top weight.
Also saddled by Mathie was Wall Street Trader (USA) to be second by four lengths to winning stable companion Pack Plays (USA).
Out for a 77th racecourse appearance, it was 8-5 against the durable 11-year-old Storm Valley declared by Colin Ferguson and ridden by Teven Foster. The dark bay horse led comfortably to win the five and a half furlongs opening event by over four lengths. His career record improved to 18 wins, eight second and 12 third place finishes therefore making the frame in almost half his races for $8.8 million in stake earnings to date.
Tigeramedat (USA), ridden by former two-time champion Shane Ellis for the first leg of a riding double on the nine-race programme, was better than 11 lengths clear of nearest rival in returning odds of 1-5.
The five-year-old bay horse was saddled by former three-time champion Anthony Nunes for the mere canter that was required to dominate over the eight furlongs of race two.
Former jockey turned trainer Tensang Chung was rewarded for his patience when four-year-old maiden Aplomb (5-2) won race three over the five-furlong straight course.
The little chestnut filly was behind by combined margins exceeding 130 lengths in her seven starts prior. However, she was in front and on the bridle almost all the way here to score by four and a half lengths with Matthew Bennett at the reins.
Former five-time champion reinsman Trevor Simpson was aboard maiden winner Shooting Star (USA) for trainer Paul Swaby. The four-year-old colt was always going well and delivered the seven-furlong race four by three and a half lengths.
In race five, 2011 champion jockey Dick Cardenas executed the task of guiding Okoye Warrior (9-1), declared by long-serving conditioner Randolph Scott, to a victory margin of three and a half lengths over the four furlongs course.
The margin of the victory of KP Choice (5-2), winner of race six over the straight course, was not visible to the naked eye. Jockey Robert Halledeen was very confident his mount had prevailed over 2-1 favourite Power Ranking (Richie Shakes). However, it required the photo finish technology to confirm the minimum winning margin of a nose for trainer Fernando Geddes’ to register his first success of the new season.
Trainer Oral Hayden, who also owns three of the seven starters in race eight over five furlongs straight, was in the winners’ enclosure as Unruly Mo (1-5) won the Maiden Special Weight by over seven lengths to confirm the Ellis riding double.
In the six-furlong closing event, veteran Paul Francis guided Big Jule (8-5) to a near ten-length victory for second generation conditioner Ryan Darby to win a second race this month.
