In every racing jurisdiction winning the derby is the ambition of every owner and trainer. And they get one shot at it each year and today is Jamaica’s derby day at Caymanas Park.

It is the 95th running of the Jamaica Derby sponsored by Cal’s.

Twelve races are carded with a strong field of 15 contesting the stamina testing run going 2,400 metres. Positioned as the penultimate race on the programme, the Jamaica Derby is scheduled to go to post at approximately 5:15 pm with first post at 11:05 am.

This fascination with the most valuable and precious jewel in the Triple Crown Series begin as early as the Two-Year-Old Series when owners and trainers begin to look out for precocious and capable talent that is as ruthless as a bulldog.

For this reason, the local derby is Jamaica’s most exciting event on the racing calendar. As it is imbued with glitz, glamour and fun, as the country’s top three-year-old horses, line up for the biggest prize in local racing.

It is the largest field of runners to face the starter in many moons and this should say something for local breeders. True, it is only that one can win barring a dead heat, but the field of 15 going post ward should make a statement to the powers that be that Jamaica is a gambling country.

In some other racing jurisdictions, regular fields of five and six go to post wherein at Caymanas Park only on rear occasions a field of six faces the starter.

To move on today the most precious jewel in the Triple Crown will be up for grabs and it is the day when the best talents are expected to also sparkle. Chief among them are Ali Baba, Seeking The Dream, Merlin, Kronus and Superluminal.

Ali Baba is a bay colt by Fearless Vision-Ahwhofah bred and owned by Winston Kong and trained by Wayne DaCosta with Robert Halledeen. The well-bred and talented 2,000 Guineas winner is tipped to win the second leg of the Triple Crown and go on to correct what, with better luck, Perfect Neighbour would have done two seasons ago.

Seeking My Dream, a chestnut colt by Seeking The Glory-Alsafra owned by Derrick C Smith and trained by Wayne DaCosta with Omar Walker up, has been tuned to the last note for conquest.

Merlin, a dark bay filly by Western Classic-Code Star owned by Barrington E Bernard and trained by Edward S Walker with Paul Francis set to ride, is well-bred for the distance and she has good dark horse potential to sneak a high-finishing position.

In the case of Kronus, a bay colt by Liquidity-Surface To Air owned by Elite Bloodstock Limited and trained by Richard Azan and to be ridden by Richard Mairs, he should be coming at field after turning up the lane.

Superluminal — a bay colt by Natural Selection-Thousand Hills and owned by PJK Team, trained by Harry Parsard with Ameth Robles in the saddle — has good staying pedigree and with the choice of rider the unforeseen is possible.

Ones To Watch

Race 1 Sir Mandi (Robert Halledeen

Race 2 Rock Union (Shane Ellis)

Race 3 Poppy’s Pride (Jevanne Erwin)

Race 4 Chief Secretariat (Kuri Powell)

Race 5 Raja Sarangi (Shane Ellis)

Race 6 Shine (Richard Mairs)

Race 7 Rio Cobre (Robert Halledeen)

Race 8 Dreamcometrue (Aaron Chatrie)

Race 9 Seal The Deal (Orayne Sewell)

Race 10 Make My Day (Robert Halledeen)

Race 11 Ali Baba (Robert Halledeen)

Race 12 Zeus (Shane Ellis)

— Hurbun Williams