In the day’s opening event, run over seven furlongs, US-bred Four Thirty (7-2), declared by Gary Subratie with 2022 champion Dane Dawkins at the reins, was 4½ lengths clear of her nearest of 11 rivals when the arrival of the winning post signalled the end of the contest. The event was a Restricted Allowance IV for 4-year-olds & upwards with fewer than three career wins.
For the first of a riding double, apprentice Jahiem Anderson was aboard Michael Marlowe’s Casually Yours (6-1), a four-year-old maiden filly who had only managed two third-place finishes in her previous 20 appearances but was over 13 lengths clear at the end of the seven-furlong race two.
Anderson closed his double in contrasting style as the 5½-furlong sprint of race three went to Solace (4-1), owned and trained by Barrington Bernard. Anderson, a very promising reinsman, was at his best. He induced a well-timed late flourish from his mount to split rivals close to home and score by a neck. This was a finish with less than one length separating the first four horses at the line.
Emelio McLean made it three successes for 2024 graduates of the Jamaica Racing Commission Riding School (JRCRS) in race four, with more to follow later for another of his colleagues. Mclean sat motionless for the first four furlongs of the straight five-furlong race five, and his mount, Ballistic Missile (4-1), declared by Gregg Fennell, led and lasted by just under a length over 3-5 bet Princess Fianie, under this good ride.
Tevin Foster, in good form lately, rode the first of two winners on the day with 4-5 backed Money Box, trained by Boris McIntosh, the best by nearly five lengths over the straight five gallop of the fifth event for $350,000 claimers with a full field of 16 starters.
In race six, for three-year-old maidens, there was a belated but auspicious debut for Walk The Plank (6-5) partnered by 2023 champion Reyan Lewis for the first of his two-timer on the day. The well conformed colt, a progeny of Buzz Nightmare, won by eight lengths and opened a stable double for former three-time champion (2019-2021) Anthony Nunes. Lewis had his second astride D’Storm (3-1) in the seven-furlong race eight with the Patrick Lynch trained four-year-old filly scoring by a neck.
Thirty-five minutes later, the Nunes stable double was confirmed in race seven over the extended nine-furlong circular course with Tia Maria (6-5), and a victory of 4 ½ lengths, making the first of the riding double by Tajay Suckoo.
This in-form reinsman to confirm his double success was aboard Peter-John Parsard’s sprinting filly Sky Is The Limit (9-5), who won the 5½-furlong race nine by almost four lengths to make it, all told, five on the day for the 2024 JRCRS graduates.
In response to chief rival Nunes for the 2026 trainers title double, four-time (2022-2025) and season-leading Jason DaCosta, saddled the first two to finish in the featured Donald Wehby Snr Memorial Trophy, run as race ten over the straight course. Miss MoneyPenny (6-1), ridden by Foster to close his double, was 2 ½ lengths ahead of stablemate I Dream Again (8-5).
DaCosta’s lead in stakes earnings is approximately $5.0 million with 5½ months of the season remaining.
