The Paul Charlton-trained Cartel was able to outrun A.P.I by a neck to win the $1-million War Zone Sprint Trophy feature at Caymanas Park yesterday in what turned out to be a thrilling tussle in the stretch.

In the process of winning the Restricted Stakes event for native-bred three-year-olds, Cartel, who continued to show vast improvement, was registering his third-consecutive victory and the fourth overall from nine career starts.

Ridden by non-claiming apprentice Jerome Innis, Cartel got a good break and raced in close touch behind Balazo and stable companion A.P.I in the early exchanges.

However, approaching the final bend, Innis rushed Cartel to challenge Balazo for the lead and the bay gelding quickly took control of the race turning for home in the five-and-a-half-furlong (1,100 metres) event.

When it appeared as if Cartel would run away with the victory at the furlong pole, jockey Dick Cardenas got his mount to change lead and A.P.I came charging at Cartel in the dying stages of the race, setting up a driving finish to the feature race.

However, Innis kept his mount well balanced and Cartel showed his fighting qualities by hanging on for the victory in the end from the determined A.P.I. Killer Bee, under Aaron Chatrie, finished in third spot, while Toot The Blues (Prince Holder) ended in fourth position. The winning time for the event was a quick 1:06.0 minutes.

Anthony Thomas, Cardenas, and Dane Nelson were the picks among the jockeys with two wins apiece.

Thomas won aboard Abogado (second race) and Zackontheattack (fourth race), while Cardenas won aboard Christilano (third race) and Song On Track (sixth race), while Nelson won aboard Nothingbutthebest (fifth race) and Blue Dixie (seventh race).

Racing continues on Saturday with an expected 11-race card.