Winning the featured race seven, the Mr Sensational Trophy over seven furlongs, was a mere formality for Sir Don (USA), one of the smartest juveniles ever imported.
Schooled by former three-time champion Anthony Nunes, the Spun To Run colt won his first two races over four and five and a half furlongs by a combined margin of over 18 lengths, posting 46.4 seconds and 1:06.0, respectively.
Today’s seven-furlong canter of Sir Don with champion Raddesh Roman at the reins was in a time of 1:26.1, which could have been a full two or more seconds faster if requested. With an effortless win margin of 16 ¼ lengths, theoretically combined with time and weight carried (123lbs/56kilos), gives Sir Don (USA) a top-class rating of 194, which is 114lbs/51.5kilos in Graded Stakes Handicap company.
Unusual for five decades, many of the importees of English and later American bloodlines made it to the top class at two years old in the sixties, seventies, and eighties, schooled by some of our greatest trainers. Incidentally, the quality of local bloodstock has deteriorated to a level where the Classic winners succeeding in the top class is a modern rarity.
The 2022 champion, Dane Dawkins, got the form players off to a good start, with 8-5 backed, Dream To Reality, escaping the late challenge of 20-1 shot Cryptogirl to score by a half a length in the opening event over the five furlongs straight course. Dream To Reality was saddled by Saqlain Roman.
Race two of ten on the card, a Maiden Special Weight over five and a half furlongs, restricted to foals of 2024, went to 3-1 bet Darwin, ridden by claimer Tajay Suckoo for trainer Richard Azan, who also saddled the short-headed runner-up Mo Pai (9-2) guided by Tevin Foster.
The next four races went to horses ridden by very promising 2024 graduates of the Jamaica Racing Commission Riding School.
First up was Emelio McLean aboard Warsaw (2-1), whose long-awaited return to form materialized with a two-and-a-half-length frontrunning triumph over the five and a half furlongs of race three. Warsaw, a speedy sort when in form, was saddled by owner/trainer Raymond Townsend.
Demar Williams was next in line to deliver a smooth performance aboard, second-generation conditioner Robert Pearson’s The Liviticus. Favourite at 8/5 to win race four, she won by just over two lengths. This was the opener of the double success of Williams, with seven race meetings remaining in the 2025 season, who, on 40 now, has six wins more than chief rival Richie Shakes for the apprentice championship and most improved rider awards.
Shakes helped himself to the first of a double as Ascend (9-5) racing for only the second time, made her debut far back as October 19, 2024. This progeny of Bern Notice was turned out in immaculate condition by Barrington Bernard, who is also the owner. Ascend was always clear and scored by nearly five lengths over the four furlongs straight course.
An hour and a half later, it was Williams' time again in race six, a four-furlong straight dash. Phoenix Risen (8-5) was saddled by Lawrence Freemantle for career win number three hundred for the hardworking conditioner, whose dedication to his craft is exemplary. Phoenix Risen, entered for his lowest ever tag at $350,000, won by one and a half lengths.
In race eight, the Bernard/Shakes collaboration confirmed their double success in style with Wayne’scherrylinks (7-2) controlling the pace of the five-furlong straight race eight to score by three lengths.
In race nine, the secondary featured Kaz Hoshay Trophy over five and a half furlongs was won from in front by California Crown (2-1) with Robert Halledeen at the reins for champion conditioner Jason DaCosta.
To close the card,15-1 shot, US-bred Quantum Star (Christopher Mamdeen), saddled by owner Oral Hayden, was a neck ahead of the nearest of 15 rivals at the end of the five-furlong straight event.
