RACE ONE - Another display of patient yet strong handling by jockey Phillip Parchment brought victory for the Gary Griffiths trained Diligent at odds of 5-1 in the Caymanas Sunday (May 8, 2022) first. Diligent earned his fifth win from 62 starts in a three-year-old and upwards claimer $250,000 - $200,000 at six furlongs.
RACE TWO – Jockey Jordan Barrett continued to show improvement with a well-handled win atop the Donovan Plummer trainer Killer Bee. It was yet another visit to the winners’ enclosure for trainer Plummer who continued his run with Killer Bee being his ninth triumph this season. Well done, Sir Plummer.
RACE THREE – The winning synergy of trainer Ian Parsard, and jockey Dane Dawkins continue to shine with the expected victory by Dodge This Link. This was Dawkins’ fifth winner in the last 14 races run at the Park.
RACE FOUR – Jockey Dane Dawkins is more and more living up to his recently acquired moniker of ‘DEVASTATING DANE’. There is no stopping Dane at the moment as his win atop Itiz What Itiz for trainer Gary Subratie was his sixth over the weekend race days from a total at this time of 15 races. Note also that Dawkins after riding odds-on horses like Atomica and Mahogany won on Itiz What Itiz at 10-1.
RACE FIVE - The return of Goliath The Great was a successful one although he weakened inside the final half a furlong of the five straight contest. This run will assist Goliath The Great moving forward, with the question being where next? Is it non-winners of three or the 2000 Guineas? Time will tell! Of note is that jockey Dick Cardenas continued his run of riding a winner a day since his return.
RACE SIX – No amount of praise can be sufficient for trainer Nicholas Smith who brought winner Lightning McQueen from a 204-day break to win this event. This young conditioner has been making steady progress and must be encouraged and supported in his forward trek. Smith in 2022, has won five races from only 28 runners, which is a progressive achievement. For Lightning McQueen, known to have to deal with injuries throughout his career, it was win number nine from 18 starts, plus hitting the board three times. Well done to all.
RACE SEVEN – The trainer Dennis Pryce – owner Busy Racing Stables combo keeps churning out the winners in recent times. This time it was a narrow victory by Mister Mandate by half-a-length in a tussle with Mine That Cat with Bebeto Harvey. The combo, must, however, give credit to jockey Javaniel Patterson for a persistent and strong ride. Win number 13 for the consistent Patterson.
RACE EIGHT – Slam raced for the first occasion under the care of trainer Ryan Darby. In this three-year-old maiden special weight contest at 8 ½ furlongs, Slam with Tevin Foster in the irons showed that he gets a distance of ground as he was coming from way off to nab Rum Puncher (Dane Dawkins). Having secured his first win it is not beyond imagination that Slam going the longer distances of the St Leger (10-furlongs) and the Derby (12-furlongs), will come into contention and focus.
RACE NINE – This was THE KINGSTON and the coming into focus of Blue Vinyl. This race will be the subject of a separate article. Of note, jockey Anthony Thomas fell from Deezi, who cracked a bone and had to be put down.
