KINGSTON, Jamaica - In the day’s featured fillies 1,400-metre Thornbird Stakes, staged as the ninth on the day, the top juveniles of last season confirmed their status.
Saddled by Ian Parsard, even money favourite Bootylicios (Reyan Lewis 22) pursued and wore down front running Mamma Mia (Robert Halledeen 15) to score by three lengths over Thalita (Omar Walker 09) with the pacemaker three parts of a length further back in third.
Jason DaCosta, who schools both Mamma Mia (conceded Bootylicious two kilos) and Thalita can only feel encouraged by their showing here. Bootylicious, now undefeated in three starts, impressed by 15 lengths on her November debut, Mamma Mia won the 1,200-metre Cash Pot and was joint runner up with Legit Boss, winner of the 1,400-metre Pick Three, in the Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes won by top colt Mojito.
It must be of some concern to trainer Anthony Nunes that Legit Boss could only manage a well beaten fifth in today’s event although there was some improvement by Savvy Girl to be fourth. It is now on to the 1000 Guineas just over seven weeks; hence on June 03, 2023, but before, they may all be engaged in the valuable The Portmore trial Futurity over 1,400 metres set for May 6.
Supporting the feature and run as the 10th was another renewal of the Saint Cecelia Cup and gave reigning champion trainer DaCosta some consolation as he saddled three of the first four to finish the gallop over 1,300 metres. Conceding weight all-round, I Am Fred (USA) impressed with a near three-length triumph in a decent clocking of 1:18.2 with Robert Halledeen at the reins. Favourite at 4-5, Runaway Algo ran creditably as the runner-up with the DaCosta pair of She’s My Destiny (6-1) and King Arthur (12-1) third and fourth, respectively. Horse of the 2022 Racing Year Atomica could only finish ninth in the 13-runner line-up.
As an organisation, the reconstituted Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders Association (TOBA) was also featured on the 10-race card with yet another staging of their annual appreciation day and similarly named trophy.
Run as the eighth and contested over 1,820 metres the finish was close with Stomp The Rhythm (2-1), trained by Vincent Anderson and under the outstanding skills of the gifted former three-time champion Anthony Thomas, prevailed by a short head.
Stomp The Rhythm was the third on the card for Thomas (16) as he piloted Doctor Grey (9-5) to a four-length win margin in the 1,400-metre fourth for trainer Norman Smith and was aboard Philip Feanny’s Divine Force (USA) in race seven over the 1,000 metres of the straight course winning by over three lengths as the 1-9 favourite.
There was double success on the day for the trainer/jockey partnership of Anthony Nunes and Linton Steadman 06). Hecandance (2-5) won the opening event by just over five lengths and debutant Electrode (1-2) was nearly eight lengths better than his nearest pursuer in race six contested over 1000-metre straight course. This winner, a half-brother to brilliantly speedy Patriarch, looks likely to show progressive form.
Dane Dawkins (18) rode free-scoring Stranger Danger (1-1), saddled by Steven Todd, to a two-length victory over the 1,000 metres of the straight gallop for race five was success number 12 from 36 appearances by the American-bred seven-year-old horse.
Four-kilo claiming jockey Richard Henry opened his seasonal account aboard 21-1 shot Gary Subratie-schooled debutant Kai On The Go in race two over 1,000 metres. There was also a riding success for Jerome Innis as Kwaku, trained by Owen Sharpe, followed up a winning debut on March 18 with victory by over 19 lengths in race three run over 1,400 metres.
The Training Feat Award is presented to Jason DaCosta for the career-best effort of five-year-old I Am Fred (USA) in displaying the Best Winning Gallop on the card. Jockeyship awardee Anthony Thomas’s performance on Stomp The Rhythm epitomised tactical judgement of pace, balance and athletic ability. In front around the Clubhouse turn and on to the backstretch, Thomas was happy to allow three rivals to overtake. Turning for home fourth and selecting a path on the far rails, Stomp The Rhythm responded well to the assistance and ran very gamely when it mattered.
