‘Ackee’ with a lot of flavour
After being scratched due to injury on October 21 of last year, Ackee Pie’s first run was highly anticipated, but the chestnut filly finished in third position in a five-furlong (1,000m) event on the round course on February 14.
Returning to the races 10 days later on Saturday last, this time covering seven furlongs (1,400m), Ackee Pie, under Anthony Thomas, came from eighth place at the top of the lane to win by three parts of a length in a maximum field of 16 runners.
The final time of 1:28.1 for the distance was nothing to brag about at this point in the season, but it was enough to give her connections a glimmer of hope for the Classic races.
Alexandra (Dane Nelson) was the first to show on the lead, chased by Herecomestheboss (Mellisa Ward) and A Seh Soup (Oneil Mullings), with Ackee Pie way off the pace among the backmarkers.
As the field began to settle, Alexandra continued to hang tough on the lead, with So Smooth (Oneil Beckford) and Virtuoso (Odeen Edwards) joining A Seh Soup in vigorous chase of the leader.
At the half-mile, Ackee Pie slowly began to round horses, but still seemed too far behind the pace to be considered capable of winning at that point.
Alexandra turned for home with a strong lead, but began to tire inside the last furlong (200m) with several horses crowding her. However, Ackee Pie, under a well-timed and brilliant ride from Thomas, came from nowhere to snatch victory when all seemed lost.
Ackee Pie got up in time to beat Anna Lisa (Robert Halledeen) by three-quarter length. Peggy Vision (Shane Ellis), who was one of the horses threatening in deep stretch, was third.
“She [ Ackee Pie] bled in her last race, so we ran her on Lasix for the first time, plus I told the jockey not to rush, but to take it easy with her. He moved down good and she accelerated well in the finish and she won. The performance was great and it was an encouraging one as well, and I am pleased with her effort,” Azan declared.
Azan revealed that his charge’s next race might be in the Thornbird Stakes, the final preparation trial race before the Classics get underway in April.
“I think so. I think she has Classic potential. This was her second race and she did a good time of 1:28.1, so I think we are going in the right direction. Her next race may be in the Thornbird Stakes,” Azan indicated.
