It was a golden experience at Caymanas Park on Saturday last. First there was the gigantic 99/1 upsetter Gold Runner in the fourth race, followed by none other than the name known for ‘gold’, Insane Bolt in the feature Terremoto trophy race, and to top it off, Palace Gold just got up in time to defeat Noon It Is. The win by Gold Runner ridden by Jevvanne Erwin really set the cats among the pigeons, as every Pick-9 and early Pick-6 wager got busted. For his efforts, Gold Runner paid $4,678.00 to win, having sold only $5,590 in a win pool of $933, 812.

That Insane Bolt (Dick Cardenas) won his second consecutive race was quite predictable while Palace Gold (Robert Halledeen) reversed her previous bad run with a come-from-behind win. Hope you spotted the sequence, if even after the Gold Runner victory.

NOTABLE FIRSTS

There were a number of trainers and riders who made their first visit to the winners’ unsaddling enclosure for this season. In the day’s second race, trainer George Moo-Young tasted victory when his Amanda Panda easily defeated rivals. The sixth race saw trainer Antonio Barker, who was starting a horse for the 14th time this year, breaking his winless streak with Nolinga ridden by Dane Nelson. It was a chance ride for the reigning champion, as listed jockey Andre Martin did not ride on the day. Nolinga is owned by Mrs Rita McKenzie, a Hall of Fame inductee and long serving member of the racing community.

Palace Gold, winner in style of the seventh race provided his rider Robert Halledeen with his first win from 53 starts this season, while it was the turn of Robert Pearson whose Warrior Princess easily took the eighth race. Pearson was winning his first race from eight starts in 2013.

To put the cap on the day, Pegasus, searching for a win for so long, finally got it done in the last race, although only just, thereby giving his trainer Paul Charlton his first win for the year. Congratulations to all.