Erasmo blazes to Kenneth Mattis Trophy win
ERASMO relegated Hombre to second inside the final 150 metres to win the $715,000 Kenneth Mattis OD Trophy Overnight Allowance, three-year-olds upward feature, by 1 1/2 lengths at Caymanas Park on Saturday.
However, it was leading jockey Dane Nelson and the unassuming reignsman Richard Mitchell who really highlighted the 10-race card with three-timers.
Mitchell won the first two races, starting with the 2-1 bet Jaylen for owner/trainer Fitzroy Glispie and King T at odds of 7-2 in the second for trainer Raymond Townsend. Mitchell then secured a chance ride in the fourth aboard Lovetta Jones to complete his three-timer.
Nelson, on the other hand, failed to get going until the sixth when he booted home the 3-1 chance Hatteras for trainer Tensang Chung. He continued in the seventh with the 2-1 shot Cantare for leading trainer Wayne DaCosta and completed his triple success with second-time runner Valid Image for trainer Andre Graham, who was saddling his second win from eight career starts.
In the day’s feature, Erasmo, the 3-5 favourite trained by Richard Azan and shooting from barrier five, ran 2,000 metres in 2:10.2 to defeat the 8-5 second favourite ridden by Winston Griffiths.
Owned by Elite Bloodstock Limited jockey, Cardenas waited with Erasmo until approaching 800m before getting into the picture. But he had some running to do as Griffiths had put Hombre ahead entering the 1,400-metre point. Hombre held a slim lead turning up the lane as Erasmo was making strong running on the outside and had the 2009 Superstakes winner covered.
And after they had straightened for the drive, Cardenas set Erasmo, last season’s Lotto winner, alight left of centre track and took command which he never relinquished.
Prince Rohan, who returned up in class from claiming company, finished third another two lengths back at odds of 5-2. He was ridden by Paul Francis. Cold Ground, ridden by Devon Thomas, was never industrious enough to force the issue and completed the frame as a 4-1 betting option in the field of five.
Eramso, a four-year-old chestnut gelding by Sir Cherokee out of You Can’t Hide (Alphabet Soup) and bred by Ham Stables, was winning for the second time for the season. He earned $390,400 as the winner’s share for earnings of $5,663,400 lifetime.
