Ten horses claimed on Monday
The claiming box was very active Monday with 10 claims being made on the 10-race Heroes’ Day programme.
In the second race, Runner Runner was claimed from Spencer Chung by Paul Smith for owner Deleta Brewster for $250,000; Rocketeer was taken from Patrick Lynch for $250,000 by Tyrone Prince for Dimple Ruddock, and Aunt Hilda was claimed by Patrick Fong for New Blue Limited from Marlon Anderson, also for $250,000.
Force De Jour, who completed his fifth consecutive victory, was claimed from Winston Morris by Robert Darby Snr for himself for $450,000, and Sunlight Express was claimed by Donovan Plummer for Derick Gayle for $450,000 from Neive Graham from the fourth race.
In the 10th race Lorne Kirlew lost Water Wave to Andrew McDonald acting as both trainer and owner, Kevin Brivette lost Sink The Bismarck to Victor Williams for Andre Adams, Ryan Darby claimed Very Crafty for Raphael Gordon from Anthony Nunes, the Tyrone Prince – trained Reign Over All was taken by Robert Darby Snr for Edgar Miller, and Gary Griffiths took Gran Corazon from Dennis Lee for Keith Williams. All the claims in the last race were at the $180,000 claiming tag.
FIRST-TIMERS
Alycinth, who has been beaten into second place in her last four outings, finally released the maiden tag at Caymanas Park on Monday.
The win by the three-year-old chestnut filly brought some relief to trainer Enos Brown, who from 19 starts since the start of the year, saddled his first winner.
“It is a nice feeling to win my first race for the season. I don’t really have a bunch of horses, only a few to work with and I am grateful for them. Alycinth has been running some good races from the other day and I am happy that she finally came through as she deserved it,” Brown told the Complete Racing Guide.
Alycinth, was ridden by Percy Williams and went off as the 2-1 second favourite in a field of 14 runners going over the distance of 1,100 metres in a time of 1:08:0 minutes.
The win was also a rare one this season for Williams,who was riding his second winner from 16 mounts.
FIVE IN A ROW FOR FORCE DE JOUR
American-bred Force De Jour completed his fifth consecutive win when he romped home easily in a $450,000-$400,000 claiming tag event at Caymanas Park on Heroes’ Day Monday.
Force De Jour, ridden by Paul Francis, sat in second position behind Sunlight Express (Shane Ellis) for a while before he pulled away for a comfortable two-length victory in the 1,000 metres straight event.
The four-year-old bay colt by Sharp Humor – Song Bird now boasts a record in 2015 of 12 starts with six wins, one second-place finish, two thirds and three times off the board for earnings of over $2.2 million so far. His lifetime performance chart reads: 21 starts from which he has won 10 races, three seconds and two thirds for earnings of over $4.2 million.
Francis, who has been aboard Force De Jour in his last three outings, said that the colt has improved a lot.
“He (Force De Jour) has really been tremendous in the last two months. He has been winning some good races and has been improving as well. When asked to go, he just responded well and got home easily from his rivals,” Francis said.
200 WINNERS FOR ‘WACKY’ LYNCH
Trainer Patrick ‘Wacky’ Lynch reached the landmark of 200 career wins at Caymanas Park on Heroes’ Day.
Lynch, who started the 10-race programme on 198 winners, saddled the front-running Tooting Kat in the opening event over 1,400 metres before reaching his milestone when his charge, Perfect Flyer, under Shane Ellis, picked up the lead turning for home and easily won the final event also over 1,400 metres.