Danos La Paz “in the glass”

Owner/trainer Dennis Thwaites notched his first winner for the 2019 season when his eight-year-old chestnut gelding, Danos La Paz came with a strong run in deep stretch to nip Mirabilis on the line in a claiming ($550,000-$500,000) spread over 6 ½ furlongs.

Danos La Paz (Tevin Foster) was unable to go with the early pace and settled among the backmarkers as El Cliente (Javaniel Patterson) led from Hologram Shadow (Reyan Lewis), Flying Machine (Trevowr Simpson) and Mirabilis (Christopher Mamdeen).

Mirabilis picked up the lead with half-a-furlong (100m) to go but Danos La Paz then surged through and that was that. The final time was 1:22.2.

Papa Albert makes in three in a row

Papa Albert romped home easily by 1 ½ length in a claiming ($450,000-$400,000) event to register his third consecutive win from a total of six starts this season.

Papa Albert starting his victory celebration on March 2, when he won over the five-furlong (1,000m) straight. He won by 2 ¼ lengths in a time of 1:00.0.

The chestnut gelding won back-to-back races on March 16, winning by 3 lengths going four furlongs (800m) straight.

Now going on the round course at five furlongs on Saturday, Papa Albert defeated Poker Star (Samantha Fletcher) and Parajet (Shane Ellis) in the process of clocking 1:01.3.

On all three occasions, Papa Albert was ridden by Omar Walker for trainer Ryan Darby and owner Kevin Whitter.

Errol Waugh making strides

Slowly but surely trainer Errol Waugh is making his presence felt in the 2019 racing season. After landing a double ( Superbolt and Golden Destiny) last Saturday, he added another in Luana in a claiming ($350,000-$300,000) on Easter Monday.

With those winners Waugh took his tally to six for the season.

Luana won by 1 ¼ length in 1:43.4 to register her second consecutive win.

Top Eagle finished second and Jamaican Citizen (Daniel Satchell) third.

Kalahari a winner via disqualification route

The Anthony Nunes-trained four-year-old bay filly Kalahari earned the second win of her career following the disqualification of first past the post Virtuoso in a Restricted Allowance event confined to native-bred four-year-old and upward non-winners of two over one mile (1,600m).

Kalahari (Robert Halledeen) chased Virtuoso from the start but to no avail.

Virtuoso won by 1 ½ length in 1:43.3 but after a steward’s inquiry, the colours of Virtuoso were taken down for causing interference shortly after leaving the starting gates.

Kalahari was awarded first place with Dad’s Luck (Shane Ellis) promoting to second place and Lazer Light (Daniel Satchell) third.

Ten horses claimed

The claiming box was busy on Easter Monday as 10 horses were claimed.

In the first race, Ryan Darby claimed winner Danos La Paz for owner Kevin Whitter from Dennis Thwaites, while Fitznahum Williams claimed Mirabilis for owner Colsher Ltd from Anthony Nunes. Both horses went for $550,000.

Papa Albert was claimed from Ryan Darby for $450,000 by Oneil Markland for himself and Zi Beast was taken from Steven Todd by Ryan Darby for owner Raphael Gordon, also for $450,000 from the second race.

In the sixth race, Randolph Scott claimed Cue Three for owner Kingston 22 Family from Norman Smith; Prince McDonald claimed Perfect Asset for owner Pink Alaina from Patrick Lynch and Keffin Murray claimed Lola Grey for owner Delroy Senior from Gresford Smith. All these claims from the sixth race were made for $250,000.

Randolph Scott claimed Luana for owner Fenix White from Errol Waugh; Lawrence Freemantle claimed Jamaican Citizen for owner Kevin Whitter from Oneil Markland and Casbert Khwalsingh claimed Top Eagle for owner Gilbert Khwalsingh from Ryan Darby. All horses were claimed for $350,000.