Juice Man wins Trinidad Derby for Lakeland Farms
The following article on the Trinidad Derby was taken from the Trinidad Derby.
In front of a mammoth Republic Day Crowd at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, favourite Juice Man bred in Jamaica by Richard Lake’s Lakeland Farms landed the final leg of local racing’s Triple Crown when he swept the feature Trinidad Derby Stakes on Tuesday (September 23).
Sent off as the 3-5 favourite in the 10-horse field for the prestigious event over 2,000 metres, Juice Man gave trainer Glenn Mendez his fifth Derby winner and his second in two years, as he also won in 2018 with Cape Canaveral.
Ricky Jadoo, by virtue of his 1/2 length success, joined former legend Challenor Jones as having won six Derbys, became the oldest jockey to ever win a Derby and is now also the winningest jockey in the history of the sport in Trinidad.
When the starter sent the field on their way, a loud roar erupted as Regal Intension, Juice Man, Marengo, La Reine, Blue Navigator battled for the lead on a fast track. They were followed by Visionary and Apocalypse.
Going down the back-stretch, Marengo held sway from La Reine with Juice Man close up. These were followed by the Bajan invader Visionary as Apocalypse began to take closer order.
However, at the far turn the race began in earnest with Jadoo allowing Juice Man to join La Reine at the head of affairs, as Regal Intension came under pressure with Apocalypse and Brian Boodram moving up menacingly to challenge.
As the field turned for home another roar erupted as Juice Man was joined by Apocalypse and the patrons at Santa Rosa Park voiced their approvals.
Inside the final 300 metres, however, Juice Man pulled a length clear of Apocalypse to finish in 2:05.15 with Making Headlines running on.
But just as the cheers were going up for the Justyn Kanta Persad-owned colt Juice Man, Boodramsing conjured up another effort from Apocalypse, who began to make in-roads into Juice Man’s lead. The pair battled to the line but Jadoo and Juice Man were not for the catching and repelled the challenge of Apocalypse.
Making Headlines was third.
Speaking afterwards, a very happy Glenn Mendez said, “He ( Juice Man) has done nothing wrong in his preparation for this race. The programme worked and he performed with distinction again. This is the first time in 15 years that a horse has run the time of 2:05.15.”