KINGSTON, Jamaica - ATOMICA, in one of the most acclaimed performances in recent racing history at Caymanas Park, captured the second staging of the $6-million Jamaica Cup in a new track and stakes record time on Saturday, November 12, 2022.
It may have been a nine-and-half-furlong (1,900m) event but the Oakridge Farms-owned and Gary Subratie-trained Atomica led from the first jump in a dominant, 16-length win in the three-year-old and upwards Graded Stakes contest, stopping the clock in the unbelievable time of 1:57.3. The time done by Atomica erased the previous mark of 2:00.2 set by current Horse of the Year, Further and Beyond, in 2021.
With this breathtaking winning performance, all is set for Atomica’s entry in the $US120,000 Mouttet Mile on Saturday, December 3, 2022.
THE RACE
Atomica was hustled by Dane Dawkins to take up the running as soon as the starter pressed his button. Atomica led ahead of Blue Vinyl (Reyan Lewis) and I Am Fred (Robert Halledeen) going around the clubhouse turn and onto the main track. Atomica maintained her gallop down the backstretch until the half-mile (800 m) marker when she increased her tempo on competitors, and it was smooth sailing from there for the offspring of Nuclear Wayne out of Honkeytonkville who won by a large margin. Stablemate Crimson (Raddesh Roman) ran well for second place while Miniature Man (Anthony Thomas) finished third.
TRAINER’S COMMENTS — GARY SUBRATIE
“Well, she is a very special horse. I mean, Don [Wehby - the owner] said to me that he has never seen me so speechless, and I said, ‘Well this is why I am speechless as this filly is just going beyond our expectations. I mean, three seconds off the track record shows what type of horse she is. She came out of the Gold Cup very well; she ate out and was happy. She came out with no injuries, which worried me because I thought she wouldn’t be able to run in this race, but everything worked out for her. Then after the Jamaica Cup, Atomica was as chirpy as ever and was back on the track trotting two days later.
OWNER’S COMMENT — DON WEHBY
“When I came out on the racetrack, for the first time in my life I saw Gary Subratie speechless, and I guess that sums it up in terms of that performance from Atomica. I mean, this was a remarkable performance, and in fact I think that was the best performance I have seen from Atomica. I am lost for words because she is just a very special filly, and I am blessed to own a horse like that in my life. She will race in the Mouttet Mile, which will be her last race as a three-year-old. Then afterward a decision with the input of the trainer will be made about her future.“
THE CONCLUSION
Horse racing in Jamaica has a bonafide heroine in the form of Atomica. She is the ‘Woman Wonder’ of the race track. Atomica’s name has gone way beyond the confines of Caymanas Park.
The one-two finish in the Jamaica Cup by Subratie has had the effect of opening up the doors of the trainers’ championship.
Interesting days are ahead.
