Several outstanding performances were achieved on the Burger King-sponsored Super Day at Caymanas Park on Saturday. Among the top performers that drew attention was Commander Two, a two-year-old bay gelding by Forest Danger – Hurricane Michelle bred at Everglades Farms Ltd.

Sent off as the 1-5 favourite, Commander Two created a favourable impression with a bold front-running dash under claiming apprentice Javaniel Patterson to win the Little Caesar Hot-N-Ready Trophy over six furlongs (1,200m) by 13 lengths in a brisk 1:12.0, under splits of 23.0, 47.1, to open his winning account in the two-year-old maiden condition race before a packed house at the Park.

Owned by Von White and trained by Patrick Taylor, Commander Two, running for the fourth time, left the gates like a bat out of hell and was not to be caught. Sir Puddington (Anthony Thomas) finished second ahead of Yaya’s Dream (Jerome Innis).

White was most impressed by his colt’s winning run.

“Patrick [Taylor] said that he was going to the Yearling Sale last year, but I did not ask him to buy a horse for me. However, he called me and said ‘I found a horse for you’. He then told me about the horse that he found and I said to him: ‘This has to be a good horse, because I didn’t really ask you to buy a horse’.

“After much consultation we went ahead with it, but I was not the one who chose the horse, the trainer did. And, I must add, the choice seems to be a good one,” White revealed.

Commander Two showed much promise in his first two races when twice finishing second over five furlongs (1,000m) round and five-and-a-half furlongs (1,100m). When the journey was extended to six furlongs (1,200m) and the champion jockey Omar Walker climbed aboard, he finished over eight lengths in fifth place.

“On that day he ( Commander Two) seemed not to like the tongue tie. Today (Saturday) the tongue tie was removed and he ran like a scared hare in a time of 1:12.0, and we expect him to improve,” White said.

Taylor then shared how he picked out Commander Two in the sale.

“I went to the Yearling Sale last year and my boss and I had a discussion, but apparently he forgot what he said to me. Accordingly, I proceeded and went to the sale. While there I was going through the horses and I made a bid on Lot 73 and was not successful. I proceeded to another lot and was also unsuccessful.

“I then took the decision to wait and see if something else would come along. Eventually, I just saw a horse appear in front of me from around the back. As he came around, our eyes met and made four. I said to myself (under my breath), this must be my horse because he just appeared in front of me as if to say ‘take me’, and I said, this is the one.

“I then proceeded to bid. The bid ended at $2.1 million, and here he is today, the 11th of November 2017, winning impressively while clocking an impressive 1:12.0.

“As a part of the connection, you must have a ‘kinda’ goodish feeling, and I am hoping the best is yet to come. It is understandable that owners and trainers always want to go for the best, so I am looking out for more improvement from him, and if we are lucky enough, we may win one of those Supreme Ventures Two-Year-Old races,” shared Taylor.