RACE ONE – This four-year-old maiden contest (5 ½ furlongs), brought victory for the ever-trying Victoria’s Medallion, owned, and trained by Leroy ‘Johnny’ Tomlinson with Tevin Foster aboard. Tomlinson was saddling his fifth winner in 2022 from 15 starts, while Foster was winning his first on the day. There was much pre-race talk surrounding Joyful, installed as the 4-5 on favourite. Joyful mixed it up a bit in the early stages but faded badly to sixth in the stretch. Of note, was the run by second-placed Blue Seas (Omar Simpson), out for only the second occasion. Blue Seas trained by Michael Marlowe, started at odds of 60-1, rallied strongly in the lane to be denied by just under a length. The exacta with Victoria’s Medallion and Blue Seas paid out a whopping $36,480, and the quinella $28,490.
RACE TWO – What was expected to be a romp for Den Street, dropping in $750, 000 - $600,000 claiming (6 furlongs) was not to be. Instead, a sustained challenge by Azaria (Paul Francis) in the straight, saw Den Street (Anthony Thomas) scrambling for dear life, and was just able to hold on by a head. Twenty-five claims were submitted for Den Street with trainer Clifford Atkinson eventually bringing home the four-year-old bay gelding. Den Street was the first winner on the day for Thomas and trainer Jason DaCosta.
RACE THREE – This event gave a chance for three-year-old maidens, not finishing second or third lifetime, a chance of visiting the winners’ enclosure at four furlongs. Legal Bomb, highly touted before the race, which saw none of the 13 starters, with any useful form to recommend, winning convincingly for trainer Patrick Lynch and jockey Raddesh Roman.
RACE FOUR – Returning from a long break of 299 days with the tongue tie on, Bin Laden (Anthony Thomas), made it win number two from five starts. This win by Bin Laden was a testimony to the patience of trainer, Fitzroy Glispie.
RACE FIVE – It took the Phillip Elliott conditioned Tina’s Account her 27th run to achieve what was her second victory in a four-year-old and upwards (five furlongs straight) contest. The win by Tina’s Account provided temporary relief for winning jockey Youville Pinnock, whose deluge of winners up to a month ago has suddenly dried up. It was also good to see the winning smile returned to the face of trainer Elliott.
RACE SIX – Poker Star reminded racegoers in this cheap claimer ($180, 000 - $150,000) going five furlongs straight, of his past prowess with an emphatic victory by 4 ½ lengths. Poker Star was a chance ride for Tevin Foster as nominated jockey Robert Halledeen was down for the day.
RACE SEVEN – Another race over the straight course (five furlongs) with the horse on the outside True Bravado (Dick Cardenas) winning without much fuss with the figure 8 on. Cardenas thus continued his record of a win a day since his return from injury. For trainer Donovan Russell it was his third victory this year.
RACE EIGHT – This race lost some of its vigour when it was officially announced that one of the top candidates in the non-four going a mile, Classical Orb was officially declared a late non-starter having bolted. This paved the way for one of the two Anthony Nunes entrants, Bern Notice and Santorini to pick up the spoils. As it turned out it was the least backed of two, Bern Notice (5-1) who proved the best of the lot. Bern Notice with this fourth win after 22 starts, will now campaign in Overnight Allowance.
RACE NINE – Danny Spud guided on the inside rails by jockey Javaniel Patterson earned his fourth win from 15 starts to give his trainer Vincent Atkinson his second win this season from only 10 starts.
RACE TEN – The win by I’m Fred for trainer Jason DaCosta and jockey Phillip Parchment was the taking point of the day. This race will be assessed separately in another article.
RACE ELEVEN – Having spent most of her 30-race career testing the shorter distances, there was little wonder that Denbigh Life (Nicholas Hibbert) started at odds of 17-1. Her trainer Donovan Plummer decided it was time to longer, a mile, in an optional claimer for $400, 000 - $300,000. Jockey Hibbert wasted no time pushing Denbigh Life into the lead when the gates opened. By the time, Denbigh Life reached the half-mile marker, the race was seemingly over and with, but in the straight, Denbigh Life drifted awkwardly off course ending at the stand rails, yet victory was achieved by three parts of a length. Denbigh Life was the longest odds winner on the day.
