The opening event of ten on the day had the predictable outcome. Favourite Golden Ambassador (1-5), conditioned by Paul Swaby and ridden by Bebeto Harvey, dominated the gallop over the seven furlongs for three-year-olds in a restricted Maiden Condition to score by three lengths.
In race two, four-time and reigning champion Jason DaCosta saddled the first of four winners on the day with Novia (USA) at odds of 9-2 defeating stablemate, US-bred 1-9 favourite Pepper Stepper (Robert Halledeen) in what was effectively a match in a field of five with four starters from his own stable.
Novia, ridden by Tevin Foster, to open a four-timer, scored by just under one length over the five furlongs round course in the Restricted Stakes.
Nuttin But Trouble (8-5) won race three, for $200k claimers from in front by nearly three lengths, with apprentice Evertte Clunis executing the riding engagement with confidence for trainer Henry Harrison Jnr over the three-furlong straight trip.
Star Quest (1-1) was a near three-length winner of the 7½-furlong Restricted Allowance III fourth event to secure the second on the card for the formidable DaCosta/Foster trainer/jockey collaboration.
To open a riding triple for apprentice Tajay Suckoo, Kellan (8-5), saddled by Donovan Clarke, was 10½ lengths the best at the end of the six-furlong race five. The Restricted Allowance V event was for five-year-olds and upwards with fewer than two successes lifetime.
Foster landed the third of his eventual four at the end of race six, for $1.0 million claimers, when Wayne’s Princess (7-1), owned and declared by Oral Hayden, had just over one length to spare with the 6½ furlongs completed.
Race seven, the $2.0 million 21st renewal of the Open Allowance Betting Claiming & Lotteries Trophy to DaCosta’s Dothraki (USA) for the stable’s third. Ridden by Robert Halledeen to score by a length and a half over 5 ½ furlongs, the five-year-old Into Mischief-sired bay horse now has two wins from eight local starts and one in the US for a total of three from1I lifetime appearances.
The 87th staging of the Jamaica Oaks for fillies foaled in 2024 was the feature and run as race eight. Dream Catcher (1-2), who had overwhelmed her peers with victories in the gender-restricted Thornbird Stakes, The Portmore and 1000 Guineas, duly confirmed her superiority to outstay eight rivals over the ten-furlong stamina test. Inevitably, DaCosta and Foster confirmed their respective four-timers with the money-spinning Dream Catcher scoring by just under three lengths easing down.
Suckoo claimed the second of his eventual three aboard Another One (5-2) from the stable of former three-time champion Anthony Nunes. The hard-knocking four-year-old colt sired by Aveenu Malcainu for sprinting won the Overnight Allowance event, run at five furlongs, was race nine and over the round course by 1½ lengths.
Tyrone Adrian Prince saddled Enthusiastic (7-5) to justify its short closing odds with victory coming by 1¼ lengths in the four-furlong dash. This closed Suckoo’s triple on the day and 44th of the season to take the career tally of this 2024 JRC Riding School graduate to 63.
