Three-timers for DaCosta, Walker
THE deadly combination of champion trainer Wayne DaCosta and jockey Omar Walker posted another three-timer to dominate the midweek 10-race programme at Caymanas Park yesterday.
Among their winners were the imported Cassanova Boy who won the $786,400 Zaleucus Trophy principal feature, one of three trophies on the programme, Double The Honey — another American import who won a Restricted Stakes event for imported three-year-olds and upward (NW3 & maidens) over 1,100 metres by 9 1/2 lengths in a time of 1:04.1 to be a mere one second outside the track record of 1:03.1 set by Michelels’s Magic 13 years ago — and three-year-old The King And I who won a maiden condition race over 1,100 metres in a time of 1:06.4 by 7 1/2 lengths.
Meanwhile, in the two other trophy races, Western Genius won the $570,000 City Of Kingston Centenary Cup in an upset victory by a length at 17-1, while the 8-5 favourite Cash Pat plundered his $180,000 claiming group to win the $438,000 Long Shot Trophy by six lengths over 1,300 metres in a time of 1:22.1.
DaCosta and Walker opened the card with the 1-5 favourite Cassanova Boy who ran 1,800 metres in a breezy 1:51.0 to win by 4 3/4 lengths to extend his winning streak to six in the field of seven for Open Allowance horses, three-year-olds and upward.
Hombre, last year’s Super Stakes winner who also carried 57.0kg with Cassanova Boy, made the early running under Dane Nelson as a 9-2 betting option, but gave way to the American, who motored into the lead leaving the 800 metres marker and from then on played second fiddle until the wire intervened.
The Bomber, a 7-2 chance ridden by Paul Francis who was also in the early fractions, faded when the pace increased to finish third another three lengths back, with Go My Robin partnered by Georgina Sergeon completing the frame at odds of 10-1.
Owned by Elizabeth DaCosta, Graeme Dulal-Whiteway, Winston Kong & Raymond Rousseau, Cassanova Boy, a grey four-year-old gelding by Najran out of Gender Bias (Saratoga Six), was bred by Frank Penn & John R Penn in the USA.
Cassanova Boy earned $429,400 as the winner’s share from his sixth career win for earnings of $2,519,450 lifetime.
