The opening event run at 800 metres, restricted to three-year-old maidens and contested by a field of ten, was won by 1-5 favourite Sonogram ridden by Tevin Foster for second generation trainer Robert Pearson to win his seventh race from 44 starts this season.
Always in control of the short sprint, Sonogram won by five and a half lengths as it was basically gifted by the purse by bizarre circumstance of conditions. This allows for inferior horses to concede weight to superior ones in contravention of Jamaica Racing Commission Racing Rule # 33 which speaks to weight allotment by “merit and performance”.
In race two, Dane Dawkins, the 2023 champion, back from a successful stint in Canada, was in winning form aboard the Errol Burke declared Nakamura (5-2), who was all out but extremely well ridden to score by a neck over the 1200-metre gallop.
Panamanian reinsman, Victor Sanchez, was in double riding form with the opener coming aboard 3-2 bet Princess Tiffany, saddled by owner/trainer David Powell for the 1200-metre contest secured the winner’s share of the purse for race three.
Sanchez’s closer was delivered aboard Alford Brown’s Don Pablo (5-2) with victory coming by over four lengths in race eight, run at 1200 metres.
Speaking of double riding form, two-kilogramme claimer Shane Richardson performed similarly. Contesting race five, Speedie Hare (5-2), a pacy four-year-old filly saddled by Carlton Cunningham, needed no intervention by Richardson as she won the 1000-metre straight gallop of race five by nearly eight lengths.
In contrast, 40 minutes later over the same distance for race six, Richard Azan’s Ms Cherry, the favourite at 6-5, required the full skill set of Richardson to get her home by a neck to confirm his second.
Two-kilogramme claimer Shavon Townsend, in partnering 5-1 bet Prince Dominik trained by Edward Walker.
The eight-year-old grey gelding came home nearly three lengths clear of his nearest of eight rivals. This at the end of the 1200-metre exertion for the winner’s share of the purse allotted to race four.
In race seven over 1100 metres, Answer My Prayers (3-1), a maiden filly with 18 previous starts, beat 46-1 bet Medal Award by a half a length with Aaron Chatrie executing the riding honours for trainer Donovan Plummer.
In the featured 1500-metre Typewriter, US-bred Sistren Treasure, declared by Gary Subratie and ridden by Raddesh Roman, beat 2-1 joint favourite Money Miser with Tevin Foster by a neck. This result leaves both riders on 99 wins each as they battle for the 2024 title.
