KINGSTON, Jamaica – In what turned out to be a ‘royal’ battle in the Rum Fire sponsored 10-furlong Classic Jamaica Oaks, 9-1 outsider Princess Annie with a devastating stretch burst caught long time leaders, I Am Di One and Lady Blue plus the also late finishing Princess Ava, speeding away to capture the fillies only Classic by 3 ½ lengths.
Princess Ava (45-1) was second, I Am Di One the 1-5 favourite third and pace setter Lady Blue third.
Ridden by journeyman jockey Phillip Parchment who was winning his first Classic, Princess Annie was also the first Classic winner for owner Carlton Watson and stallion Northern Giant who first crop of horses are now racing as three-year-olds.
Lady Blue set off in front when the gates opened but was soon challenged by the 1-5 prohibitive favourite, I Am Di One (Simon Husbands). In the straight it was obvious that neither Lady Blue nor I Am Di One were not able to deal with the distance as Princess Ava took over with a furlong and a half to go. Princess Annie was way off the pace but was getting into top gear on the inside rails and showing true likeness for a distance of ground, simply blew past all and sundry to land Classic glory.
The winning time was 2:13.2.
Interestingly, the exacta in the Oaks paid a whopping $23,242.
RACE 9 JAMAICA OAKS GR I (3-Y-O FILLIES) 2000M/10F 4:55 PM | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pos. | Pos. | Horse | Odds | Win | Place | ||||||||||||||||||||
1 | 10 | Princess Annie | Phillip Parchment | 9-1 | $544 | $280 | |||||||||||||||||||
2 | 6 | Princess Ava | Linton Steadman | 45-1 | $156 | ||||||||||||||||||||
3 | 11 | I Am Di One | Simon Husbands | 1-5 | $72 | ||||||||||||||||||||
4 | 4 | Lady Blue | Omar Walker | 5-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
5 | 8 | Envisaged | Robert Halledeen | 6-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
TRAINER: Wayne DaCosta | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Splits:24.3 x 50.2x 1:14.3 x 1:41.2- Time:2:13.2- Margins: 3 1/4 x 4 1/2 - 11 RAN | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
EX:$23242 | T/Fecta:$5565 | Triple:$79566 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
D/E:$26754 | S/Fecta:$19369 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Q:$14871 | Hi-5:$68739 |