KINGSTON, Jamaica – Two-year-old bay filly Buttercup made a resounding statement when she won the Abbie Grannum Memorial Cup at seven furlongs on Sunday, November 19, 2023.
Before her victory, Buttercup competed in two races, finishing fourth behind the winners stablemate Ms Cherry and Run Julie Run.
Jockey Oneil Scott guided Buttercup to victory under the training of Richard Azan, overcoming unusual circumstances in the race.
From the start, Buttercup trailed far behind the leaders due to a poor beginning. The race announcer even remarked, “And at the back, Buttercup looks helpless at the moment.”
Scott kept Buttercup on the rails around the bend, appearing quite relaxed and uninterested in the competition.
As they entered the stretch, Buttercup found a clear path along the inside rails and significantly increased her speed with half a furlong remaining.
She effortlessly passed her rivals by 2 ½ lengths. Blu Sensation finished second and Matuso took third place. The winning time was 1:31.1.
"Buttercup's performance was somewhat surprising. She can be fractious at times but not overly concerning. Based on her performance today, it seems she can handle longer distances well.
“This is an encouraging sign as she advances to compete in the one-mile Jamaica Two-Year Stakes in December and prepares for her three-year-old racing career."
