Six claims made on Saturday

Six horses were claimed on the Saturday’s 10-race card at Caymanas Park.

Four were from the sixth event, where winner Big Black Nation was claimed from Steven Todd by Junior Small for Norman Smith; Welsh Soutar claimed Laguna Point from Michael Francis for Clive McLean; Twilight Princess was claimed by Winchester McIntosh from Roy Matthews for owner Musmakit Racing Stables, while Linton Calder claimed Determine King from Raymond Townsend for himself. All were tagged for $180,000.

In the seventh event, Dennis Thwaites claimed winner Ballon D’Or from Ryan Darby for owner Michael Wray and third-place finisher Meet Justin was claimed from Michael Hall by Fernando Geddes for Master Gate Connection. Both went for $450,000.

Jamaican Citizen comes into her own

Jamaican Citizen came into her own with a facile win against $180,000 company on January 12, and again showed her worth with another eye-catching display against $350,000 runners on Saturday’s 10-race card at Caymanas Park.

The five-year-old dark bay mare ( Silent Valor – Good Citizen by Proud Citizen), who was 14 lengths in front on January 12 over seven and a half furlong (1,500 metres), completed the quick double with a two and a quarter length win over seven furlong (1,400 metres).

Ridden by Christopher Mamdeen, Jamaican Citizen was expected to face a much tougher task, but after being held in mid-pack in the early exchanges in the seven-horse field, she was sent on her way by her apprentice rider leaving the half mile and by the time leader Reassurance (Omar Walker) turned for home, Jamaican Citizen was already on her shoulders before sweeping by to win in 1:28.2, behind splits of 25.2, 48.2 and 1:13.4.

Blood Song (Simon Husbands) was second with Colt of Arms (Reyan Lewis) in third, as Reassurance stayed on for fourth.

Dare To Speak deliver loud message

The Ryan Williams – conditioned Dare to Speak was fairly consistent during his campaign last year, so it came as no surprise when he finally released the maiden tag with a lop sided performance against his peers on the 10-race programme at Caymanas Park on Saturday.

Dare To Speak, piloted by apprentice Reyan Lewis relished the mild pace of the seven-horse field in the eight and a half furlong (1,700 metres) event and used his staying abilities to good effect to smash rivals by eight and a half lengths.

The four-year-old chestnut gelding ( War Marshall – Lady Suhaagraat by Sir Lal Bahadur), ran most of the way in second position behind runaway leader My Son Bates (Phillip Parchment) before taking over near the furlong marker and then Dare To Speak then pulled away for the easiest of wins.

My Son Bates stayed on for second with Stacyslady (Tevin Foster) in third and the overwhelming favourite Lambana (Christopher Mamdeen ) in fourth.

The winning time was a slow 1:52.3, with splits of 25.0, 49.3, 1:16.1 and 1:44.1.w

Okahumpka gives veteran trainer Errol Pottinger another winner

Okahumpka had to settle for the runner-up spot in his last three outings, but that was not to be the case on Saturday’s 10-race card at Caymanas Park.

The five-year-old chestnut horse (Nuclear Wayne – Sure To Cure by Alke), provided both apprentice Shavon Townsend and trainer Errol Pottinger with their first wins of the season, when he finally came home in front over the five-straight (1,000 metres) course.

It was the second win for Okahumpka in a 24-race long career which also includes four second place finishes coming on December 1, 12 and 29, 2018 respectively.

In those events over five and a half (1,100 metres), six and a half (1,300 metres) and 1,000 metres straight, Okahumpka was behind by one and a half lengths, three lengths and a head respectively. With Townsend in the saddle for all of these runs, he signalled his worth to again find the winners’ enclosure.

On Saturday, the duo returned over the straight course and easily justified favouritism, as they came away well from post position two and bided their time behind leaders Let it Snow (Javaniel Patterson) and Ray Star (Hakeem Pottinger), before making a telling move at the furlong pole.

The Zelmuna – owned Okahumpka won comfortably by four lengths in 1:02.1, behind splits of 23.2 and 47.0 seconds.

Traditionalmedicin (Osive Donegal) closed fast for second, as short head in front of Let It Snow with Ray Star being relegated to fourth.

Ballon D’Or wins in higher grade

After watching Ballon D’Or failing to get by $350,000 claiming company a week ago, trainer Ryan Darby claimed the gelding from Anthony Nunes and threw him amongst $450,000 runners on Saturday’s 10-race card, where he proved to be a cut above the rest.

Darby seemingly had the right formula for Ballon D’Or, as the seven-year-old ( Forest Danger – Wap by Victory Gallop) recouped all losses with an eight and a half length romp over a mile (1,600 metres) competiting against six rivals at Caymanas Park on Saturday last.

The last time Ballon D’Or saw the winners’ enclosure was at this level under different management over nine furlongs and 25 yards (1,820 metres) on December 1 of last year, and Darby may have observed that performance in making his call for Saturday’s race.

Ridden by apprentice Tevin Foster, Ballon D’Or was with the pace set by Top Eagle (Raddesh Roman) with General Report (Trevor Simpson) and Rising Bop (Roger Hewitt), near enough to challenge when necessary.

Foster made his move on Ballon D’Or leaving the half mile and that was simply that for rivals. The Raphael Gordon-owned horse won in 1:39.3, behind splits of 24.2, 48.1 and 1:13.0.

Mirabilis (Robert Halledeen) was second with Meet Justin (Anthony Thomas) a further three and a half lengths in third, as Rising Bop completed the frame.

Mucho Gusto wins Robert Lewis for Baffert at Santa Anita

ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) — Bob Baffert’s second-string colt won a Kentucky Derby prep race. Don’t discount Mucho Gusto.

Last year, Baffert’s top Derby hopeful McKinzie got injured. Second-stringer Justify went on to sweep the Derby, Preakness and Belmont, giving Baffert a second Triple Crown in three years.

Mucho Gusto won the US$150,000 Robert Lewis Stakes by 4¾ lengths at Santa Anita on Saturday last, February 3.

“This is the time of year when you want to start getting excited about something,” Baffert said in the winner’s circle during a brief break between drenching rain. “We’re still dreaming in Technicolor.”

Ridden by Joe Talamo, Mucho Gusto ran 1 1/16 miles on a sloppy track in 1:41.81.

“He’s a three-year-old but he feels like an older horse,” Talamo said. “He’s got a great mind. He absolutely loved the mud today.”

Mucho Gusto was purchased for US$625,000 at the Timonium sale near the Maryland home of owner Michael Petersen. Baffert and Petersen saw the colt work in the slop before the sale and “he just smoked over it,” the trainer said.

“I texted Bob to see if I should come out for the race and he was very confident,” Petersen said.

Magnificent McCool was fourth. Kid Cantina was pulled up at the top of the backstretch. Nolo Contesto was scratched, reducing the field to five.

Baffert earned his seventh win in the Lewis, named for his late client with whom he won the 1997 Kentucky Derby and Preakness with Silver Charm.

Mucho Gusto has three wins in four career starts. He’s a son of Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Mucho Macho Man.

“He got to sit off the pace, which was good. They have to learn to do that,” Baffert said. “I was really happy with Joe. He rode him with a lot of confidence, like he was a good horse.”

Baffert saddled 1-2 favourite McKinzie to a second-place finish in the US$200,000 San Pasqual Stakes. The four-year-old colt got edged near the wire by Battle of Midway after they battled through the stretch.

In other Kentucky Derby preps Saturday:

— Harvey Wallbanger scored an upset at 29-1 odds in the US$350,000 Holy Bull Stakes, winning by a length at Gulfstream Park.

Ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr, Harvey Wallbanger ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.69 and paid $61.20 to win.

Sent off at 99-1, Everfast finished second. Previously unbeaten Maximus Mischief, the odds-on favourite, was third.

Trained by Ken McPeek, Harvey Wallbanger was purchased for US$50,000 as a yearling. He is named for the 1970s drink that contains vodka, orange juice and an Italian liqueur.

“Now he’s a graded stakes winner,” co-owner Harold Lerner said. “I hope everybody has a Harvey Wallbanger later.”

— Tax surged up the rail to overtake Our Braintrust and Not That Brady in deep stretch and win the US$250,000 Withers by a head at Aqueduct.

Ridden by Junior Alvarado, Tax ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.27.

Tax earned 10 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby. He more than tripled his career earnings to US$186,300 and has never been worse than third in four starts.

Not That Brady was second, a neck ahead of Our Braintrust, trained by Mark Casse.

Casse lodged an objection against Not That Brady for the bump in the stretch, but there was no change to the order of finish.