AWESOME PRINCE OFF THE MARK WITH FIRST-TIME LASIX
With Lasix administered for the first time, Awesome Prince, trained by Steven Todd, dispatched the maiden tag in a three-year-old special weight event going 5½ furlongs (1,100m).
It wasn’t the best of starts for Awesome Prince but jockey Phillip Parchment hustled up the bay colt to chase of Storm A Come (Raddesh Roman) going into the half-mile turn.
Awesome Prince picked up the lead approaching the distance and brought the field into the lane for the final two furlongs. Although Noble Impulse (Tevin Foster) tried to challenge on the inside rails, Awesome Prince proved too strong and came away with a length and three-quarters win in a time of 1:08.0. Noble Impulse was second and Storm A Come third.
EQUIPMENT CHANGE AND MINE THAT CAT IS A WINNER
Running with the blinkers off and the visor on, the Carl Anderson-bred, owned, and trained Mine That Cat easily won a four-year-old and upwards (non-winners of three) contest at a mile (1,600m).
It was an even start for most of the runners with Mine That Cat settling in fourth place down the backstretch behind Katalina (Omar Walker), Love Craft (Anthony Thomas) and Khai Alexis (Paul Francis).
Mine That Cat then made his move at the half-mile when jockey Shane Ellis sent down the chestnut colt in third place on the heels of Katalina, and Khal Alexis running the turn. Mine That Cat hugged the inside rails, cut the turn and surged to the front at the top of the lane.
With a change of hold from Ellis in deep stretch, Mine That Cat then edged away, winning by 3 lengths. Katalina finished second and Khai Alexis third. The winning time was 1:40.3.
JJTHESTRIKER COMES GOOD
Trainer Fitznahum Williams saddled his first winner of the season from 18 starts after his charge JJThestriker made one move to win a four-year-old and upwards (non-winners of two) over 6 furlongs (1,200m).
Ridden by the red hot Phillip Parchment, JJThestriker (Here Comes Ben – Zara) shot the front at the start of the race and held the lead ahead of Thegoodlife (Omar Walker), Big Argument (Dick Cardenas), and Stickydon (Chris Mamdeen) going into the half-mile (800m) turn.
Entering the straight, JJThestriker wasted no time, sprinting home by 3 lengths in a time of 1:15.1. Second went to Big Argument, with Great Britt (Anthony Thomas) third.
WIN NUMBER FOUR FOR WILL THE CONQUERER
Trained by Robert Pearson, and ridden by Reyan Lewis, Will The Conquerer notched his fourth career win from 23 starts in a three-year-old and upwards Claiming ($750,000-$600,000) spread travelling five furlongs (1,000m) straight.
Will The Conquerer got a smooth break at the off and raced just behind the early leaders Lightning McQueen (Paul Francis) and Special Counsel (Omar Walker) for most of the way in the sprint event.
Coming across the dummy rails and onto the main track, Will The Conquerer found top stride and came through for a two-length win. Sir Kel (Anthony Thomas) finished second and Lightning McQueen third.
CLAIMS MADE ON SATURDAY, JULY 2, 2022
Byron Davis claimed Storm Valley for owner Paul Nugent for $250,000 from Marlon Anderson from the fourth race.
In the fifth race, Nicholas Smith claimed Sudden Flight for owner Connecticut from Alford Brown; Patrick Fong claimed Lighting McQueen for owner Paul Nugent from Smith, Raymond Townsend claimed winner Will The Conquerer for himself from Robert Pearson, and Phillip Lee claimed Special Counsel for owner Robert Williams from Dennis Thwaites. All horses in the fifth were claimed for $750,000 each.
