KINGSTON, Jamaica – Since winning the Jamaica Derby in 2018, Drone Strike has raced seven times without even hitting the board once due mainly to injuries.
A seemingly rejuvenated Drone Strike re-emerged for his first competitive engagement in the opening event of 10 races on today’s card at Caymanas Park and found himself in the winners’ enclosure with his favourite rider Aaron Chartie.
Trained by Patrick Lynch, Drone Strike had to work overtime to win what was a $350,000 - $300,000 Optional Claimer for three-year-olds and upwards run over seven furlongs.
Staying close to front runner Storm Valley (Paul Francis) for most of the trip but had difficulties getting by the stubborn Storm Valley.
Chatrie had to call on all his energy getting home by 2 ¼ lengths. Storm Valley was second with Band of Gold third.
There were three late non-starters in the first – Musketoon, Holy Light, and Nala’s Bushman.
| RACE 1 $350-300,000 OPT CLAIM (3YOS&UP) 1400M/7FUR 12:00 PM | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pos. | No. | Horse | Jockey | Odds | Win | Place | q | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 13 | Drone Strike | Aaron Chatrie | 2-5 | $72 | $57 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | 11 | Storm Valley | Paul Francis | 9-2 | $114.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | 2 | Band of Gold | Christopher Mamdeen | 10-1 | $105.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | 3 | El Cliente | Anthony Thomas | 6-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | 14 | Unbreakable | Samantha Fletcher | 17-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| TRAINER: Patrick Lynch | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LNS: #9 Holy Light #10 Nala's Bushman, #7 Musketoon | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Splits-23.4 x 47.0 x 1:12.4 Time: 1:28.0 - Margins: - 11 RAN | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ex:$331 | T/Fecta:337 | Hi-5:$1,592 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Qu:$234 | S/Fecta:$973 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
