KINGSTON, Jamaica – Uncle Frank continued to display his burst of electric form this season with probably his finest victory to date in the St Cecelia Trophy event for Open Allowance horses run over 6 ½ furlongs.
Ridden by the resurgent veteran rider Phillip Parchment, Uncle Frank running at odds of 5-2 sat way off the cracking splits of 22.3 x 45.3 set by stablemates 1000 Guineas winner, I Am Di One (Anthony Thomas) and four-year-old Exhilarate (Linton Steadman). At one stage the two of I Am Di One and Exhilarate were five to six lengths in front of the rest of the field.
Chace The Great, who was expected to be a part of the outcome of this race bolted and was declared a late non-starter.
Parchment guided Uncle Frank to about four lengths behind the leaders when they turned for home putting Uncle Frank on the inside rails.
I Am Di One and Exhilarate packed up the gallop with Zephyr (Chris Mamdeen) coming on strong on the outside. The path along the inside rails closed forcing Parchment to pull off Uncle Franck and the five-year-old responded quickly to take home the cup for his connections.
Zephyr was second with Exhilarate third. I Am Di One the 3-5 favourite in the field of five runners finished fourth.
The winning time was 1:19.3.
RACE 6 **SAINT CECELIA CUP** OPEN ALLOWANCE (3Y0&UP) 1,300M/6-1/2FUR 2:35 PM | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pos. | No. | Horse | Jockey | Odds | Win | Place | |||||||||||||||||||
1 | 4 | Uncle Frank | Phillip Parchment | 5-2 | $197 | ||||||||||||||||||||
2 | 6 | Zephyr | Christopher Mamdeen | 5-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
3 | 3 | Exhilarate | Linton Steadman | 9-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
4 | 1 | I Am Di One | Anthony Thomas | 3-5 | |||||||||||||||||||||
5 | 5 | Houdini's Magic | Shane Ellis | 3-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
TRAINER: Wayne DaCosta | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
LNS: #2 Chace The Great - bolted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Splits: 22.3 x 45.3 - Time: 1:19.1 - Margins: 1 1/2 x 5 - 5 RAN | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
EX:$949 | Triple:$5,225 | Pick-5:$6,579 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
D/E:$1,377 | T/Fecta:$1,965 | Sunrise-6:$ | |||||||||||||||||||||||