An interesting finale looms in the penultimate eighth race at Caymanas Park today when talented three-year-old Classic winners, Jamaica 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas winners — Alfouzia and Mark My Word — compete against an equally talented group of older horses in a $786,000 Open Allowance contest over 1,820 metres.

Today’s shortened nine-race card, a prelude to Monday’s Labour Day Lotto Classic Race Day 11-race card featuring the 70th running of the Lotto Classic for the Governor’s Cup, will also feature the $715,000 Percival Martin Memorial Cup, a maiden special weight contest for native-bred three-year-olds over 1,000 metres straight; the fifth race in the first section of the $462,000 CTL Claiming Series over the identical distance, and of course the ‘poor man’s’ last lap Alex’s Import Ltd “Dig Out” Handicap closing event for purse of $458,000.

First post is 1:20 pm.

A field of eight will contest the Open Allowance event and with both Classic winners side stepping Monday’s Lotto Classic is an indication that they are using what appears to be an easier two-turn event to configure a win as prep for next month’s Derby showdown. But of the opposition they face, at least two could prove a handful at this stage of their development.

Elizabeth DaCosta’s five-year-old dark bay mare Heart Of Gold and Wessel Burnett’s five-year-old bay gelding Hombre are two of the fiercest competitors for the distance and with both being weighted to have a serious say in the outcome, it will be difficult to look beyond these two for the winner.

What is interesting in this race is the pace shape. They all possess good early speed, but in the presence of Heart Of Gold and Hombre the other six rivals will have to fight for the other minor placings.

Hombre, trained by Noel Ennevor, is a specialist at 1,820 metres, having in the past won four or so of his seven races over the distance and carrying only 53.0kg and champion apprentice Doushane Gordon, looks to have a decent chance of giving trainer Ennevor an overdue first win since winning the Superstakes in November last year.

A bold front runner and consistent performer who finished a good 4 1/2 lengths second over 1,800 metres to the unbeaten American-bred Cassanova Boy, the son of Pat N Jac returns 4.0kg lighter and is fancied to atone for his last defeat with nothing as outstanding as Cassanova Boy in the line-up.

Hombre’s main challenger is none other than Heart Of Gold, who is probably not in the same class, but this daughter of Natural Selection, who is also bred by trainer Wayne DaCosta, is a tough-as-nail filly who scored over the distance in a fast time of 1:55.4 in the group below on February 27.

Beaten by The Guv over 1,500 metres on April 17 by a head after coming to the grade for the first time and is again ready for combat carrying 49.0kg and Wesley Henry. The field will be completed by The Bomber, The Guv and Go My Robin.

Ones To Watch

Race 1 Patara (Shane Ellis)

Race 2 Critical Review (Cavel Brown)

Race 3 Classy Company (Omar Walker)

Race 4 J R’s Dream (Trevor Simpson)

Race 5 Unsung Hero (Dane Nelson)

Race 6 Orion (Omar Walker)

Race 7 Nasatal (Chalrick Budhai)

Race 8 Hombre (Doushane Gordon)

Race 9 Morning Cruise (Delroy Beharie)