KINGSTON, Jamaica - MARK My Word won the 2010 Triple Crown and “three-peated” in the Superstakes with victory in that same year with his ultimate Classic success, then won the 2011 and the 2012 staging of what was the major invitational race in the annual calendar of that era. Undoubtedly one of the greatest-ever stayers — imported or bred locally — to race at Caymanas Park, Mark My Word accumulated stakes earnings of approximately $24.0 million, which was quite remarkable given the then purse structure.
Fittingly, Calculus (Shane Ellis), winner of the 2021 Jamaica Derby and St Leger, was installed the 1-2 favourite for this featured trophy run as race eight. His chief rival, three-year-old Runaway Algo (USA) was fancied at odds of 7-5 as the second favourite. This would be a first attempt over the circular 1820-metre course for the young American chestnut colt trained by Dale Murphy and ridden by 2019 champion Christopher Mamdeen.
Once again conditioner Gary Subratie presented Calculus in immaculate condition. Runaway Algo (USA) was held up behind speedsters Make Up Artist (Anthony Thomas) and She’s A Wonder (Reyan Lewis) until making a sharp move to lead comfortably 800 metres out. Turning for home clear, Runaway Algo (USA), with the favourite hard-driven to make up a three-length deficit, proved to be a worthy opponent for Calculus and gave way inside the last 50 metres — conceding by only half a length for Ellis’s second on the card.
The opening event over 1500 metres proved to be a significant one for title-chasing trainer Jason DaCosta, currently away overseas. Favourite Iannai Links (7-5) was to be only the first of four successes for the second-generation trainer on the day as well as the first of a three-timer for jockey Reyan Lewis.
In race two run at 1400 metres, five-year-old mare Toughness (5-2), running for the 59th occasion, led and ran well when it mattered in the last 150 metres to hold her advantage safely. This under a good ride from claiming lightweight reinsman Jordan Barrett for the frequently raced grey to register her third career success under the guidance of the hard-working Rowan Mathie, for win number 11 from his 137 declarations this season.
Former two-time champion Shane Ellis rode the first of his two winners on the card aboard maiden and even-money favourite Pro Johnny who won the 1300-metre third race for trainer Gary Crawford. While in the fourth over 1820 metres it was Lewis’s turn again as he had a relatively simple task of guiding Perfect Brew (1-5) to a win margin of four and a quarter to give top ten conditioner Richard Azan the first of two for his stable. Incidentally, this event was the secondary feature and was being staged to honour the memory of Royal Dad who, in 1981, was the first of the 12 Triple Crown winners at the now 63-year-old Caymanas circuit.
DaCosta’s second and Lewis’s third came in tandem in race five, with maiden She’s My Friend dominating over the distance of 1300 metres to win by six lengths at odds of 3-5.
On his 94th mount of the season claiming jockey Romario Spencer won his ninth race this year and demonstrated confidence in winning aboard Stanislaus (3-1) over 800 metres of race six for trainer Gregory Forsyth.
Race seven — a Restricted Allowance II over 1100 metres and confined to juvenile non-winners of two races — was the most interesting as a contest on the day. Based on a good debut performance a week prior, American-bred importee Sistren Treasure, having conceded four lengths at the start and winning by five lengths while clocking a decent time of 1:07.1 over 1100 metres, was backed as the favourite at odds of 3-5.
Thalita was the first to show but yielded to the fast, early pace of Legit Boss (Dick Cardenas) who had defeated her by nearly two lengths when they met in a shared debut early in August. Champion Anthony Thomas, for his first of two wins on the day and DaCosta’s third, was at his best.
Tracking Legit Boss closely into the 400-metre straight with Sistren Treasure (USA) in pursuit and closing, Thomas elected to wait for the possibility of an opening at the far rails to deliver his challenge. The opportunity came inside the last 100 metres as the gap, just about the width of a horse, became available and was exploited decisively for the smart Thalita to seize the advantage by just over one length. Despite her strong run in the final 200 metres Sistren Treasure (USA) was denied second as the photo image showed Legit Boss a short head better.
The second of Azan’s double success came in the 1500-metre ninth, with Cardenas guiding 9-5 second-favourite Rainsville to a two-length victory in a competitive gallop for the prize money on offer.
In the tenth and closing event over 1100 metres, 1-5 favourite Madelyn’s Sunshine (USA) impressed with a nine-length romp for DaCosta’s fourth and Thomas’s second.
The Training Feat Award is presented to DaCosta for the posting of a four-timer in absentia. The Best Winning Gallop was displayed by Thalita in winning the Princess Popstar, and Thomas’s performance aboard the progressive filly earns him the Jockeyship Award.
