Sprinting over the five furlongs straight course is the forte of the Spencer Chung-conditioned six-year-old mare Champion Bubbler (USA).
Four years ago, she looked special in winning two of her first three appearances, but has proven difficult to keep fit, and today’s race was only her 19th appearance and third this season. Ridden by Tajay Suckoo to close his riding double, in the featured Reggae Trophy, run as race eight, Champion Bubbler (USA) won her third race consecutively this season, returning odds of 10/1, 9/1 and now 10/1 again.
As the more accomplished 2024 graduates of the Jamaica Racing Commission Riding School continue to do very well, Demar Williams piloted two winners on the day, including even-money favourite Degaulle in the opening event, declared by Adrian Prince for the three-and-a-half-furlong dash.
This proved to be the first of three winners on the card and the best day for the Adrian Prince stable.
In race two, Lord of Ajahlon, partnered by Jerome Innis (2-1) turned up as a three-length winner over the six furlongs for veteran conditioner Delroy Wisdom.
Saddled by former three-time champion Anthony Nunes, with 1997 champion Wesley Henry at his best with the reins, 4-1 bet Immeasurable Joy was on the lead for the entire one-mile trip to deny 10/1 shot Brenda Boy (Omar Walker) by a half a length.
In race four, over the extended circular nine furlongs and 25 yards trip, Kaylyn Melody (9-2) outstayed front runner Midnight Galaxy (7-2) by just over one length with rider Shane Richardson taking significant credit for judgement of pace on his 61st career winner as he moves now in to the category of full professional status.
Reyan Lewis, the 2023 champion jockey, rode 4-1 bet Sir John and lodged an objection against first past the post Burning Valor (9-2), to delay Demar Williams’ attempt to confirm double riding success.
Burning Valor, trained by Patrick Taylor, drifted left towards the far rails a furlong out and closed a gap Lewis intended to exploit. However, with the opening narrowed, Lewis imagined he had to take evasive action and altered course. However, his mount failed by a neck to get on terms before the seven-furlong gallop was brought to an end by the finish line. The officiating race day Operation Stewards saw nothing amiss, disagreed with Lewis and there was no change to the order of the finish.
To deliver the second of three for the stable of Prince, and the second for Demar Williams as well, Prolific Prince (3-2), the favourite ran away to score by eight lengths over the first of his rivals to complete the six-and-a-half-furlong exertion of race six. The race was run to honour the memory of trainer Harry Jaghai of that racing dynasty.
In race seven run at six furlongs, excellently speedy US-bred Incredible Jo (2-1) was ridden to a victory of over nine lengths by 2011 champion Dick Cardenas to close the Adrian Prince triple authoritatively.
This, at the expense of undefeated two-time winner Supernatural Power (1-9), who was outsprinted from the opening of the gates.
In the closing event of the nine, run in honour of the Hall Of Fame breeder Henry W Jaghai, chief protagonists Unspun (USA) at odds of 5-2 and Unbelievable Force (USA) at 4-5, ridden by Richard Shakes and Tajay Suckoo respectively were inseparable to the naked eye at the winning post.
The photo finish technology revealed that Unspun (USA), saddled by Norman Smith, was a winner by the smallest possible official victory margin of a nose.
