Hermoso Amigo, winner of his last two races going two turns and one of the brightest prospects for the US$1 million Jamaica Derby (Gr.1) event in less than a month’s time, returns to the races since his April 16 success for his final prep in the 71st-running of the $3,550,000 Lotto Classic for the Governor’s Cup (Gr.1) feature at Caymanas Park today.

Sponsored by Supreme Ventures Limited for the fourth year in succession, the Lotto Classic is the principal feature of the 11-race card. The occasion also marks the first of four scheduled Lotto Race Days for the season sponsored by SVL on this its 10th anniversary and a lively field of 13 will contest the native-bred three-year-old futurity event over 2,000 metres at approximately 5:15 pm. First post at 12:15 pm.

Among the other prominent races on the card will be the $1,470,000 Lotto Sprint Trophy, a Graded Stakes dash for three-year-olds upward over 1,100 metres with dashing American imports Ronron and Double The Honey and local sprint champion, Saint Cecelia, heading the five-horse field and the $765,000 Supreme Ventures Limited 10th Anniversary Trophy, an Overnight Allowance test for three-year-olds upward over 1,400 metres.

Trained by Noel Ennevor for owner/ breeder Wassel G Burnett, Hermoso Amigo will be ridden by Doushane Gordon. A chestnut colt by Saint Appeal out of Muchacha (Slick Trick), Hermoso Amigo is lightly raced but is highly thought of by his connections even before winning his last two races by a combination of almost 20 lengths going two turns.

Never raced as a juvenile, the far striding colt went down by a short head on debut as a three-year-old over 1,200 metres on February 16.

Since his last race, Hermoso Amigo has been steadily prepared for the stamina-testing Jamaica Derby and today’s prep performance should give trainer Ennevor a fair idea as to how close the colt is to his best come June.

For today’s event, he has responded well to his preparation and trainer Ennevor “is hoping for a good performance bar no unforeseen circumstances”.

Last season, the talented sprinter Lifeisjustforliving won the event, but failed to go on in the Blue Ribbon event. He did, however, finish second. Normally used as a pointer to the likely winner of three-year-olds’ riches race, on a number of occasions the winner of the Governor’s Cup has gone on to win the 2,400 metres stamina-testing event which makes the race an important preparatory event that is not taken slightly by trainers.

It is therefore not a foregone conclusion that the 9/5 morning line favourite will have things his way, but is expected to face major challenges.

Numbered among his chief challengers will be Maas Laurie, whom he beat in his last race by 7 1/2 lengths. And even when blessed with the strong pace of a champion race horse, Hermoso Amigo will have to contend with the lively-footed Technomoto, the two fillies Sweet Trail and Luscious; Jet Setter, Cold Ground and Sir South. Then there is Justin On Fire. The latter showed a great deal of late flourish when running at Bigmanboyu in the closing stages of 2,000 Guineas, but could only finish second as the winner was by that time beyond recall. That was a good enough attempt to show that this son of War Marshall will get the Derby Distance which means another 400 metres will not hurt especially with trainer Patrick Lynch reverting to jockey Dane Nelson for what could be a capital effort seeing that Nelson has already won twice aboard this one as a two-year-old.

All the aforementioned and a few others have worked industriously to meet the extended journey, but barring any unforeseen circumstances, it looks difficult to oppose the half-brother of the tough Grade One two-turn winning specialist, Hombre.

Ones To Watch

Race 1 Prince Of Arabia (Dane Nelson)

Race 2 Miss Crystal (Omar Walker)

Race 3 Cantare (Dane Nelson

Race 4 Sligoville (Shane Ellis)

Race 5 Clever Cherokee (Winston Griffiths)

Race 6 Rhea Marie (Clive Lynch)

Race 7 Double The Honey (Wesley Henry)

Race 8 Day Star (Wesley Henry)

Race 9 Golden Harvest (Omar Walker)

Race 10 Hermoso Amigo (Doushane Gordon)

Race 11 The Messenger (Omar Walker)