Easy does it for She’s A Maneater in Superstakes
Many-time champion trainer Wayne DaCosta’s outstanding mare She’s A Maneater notched her third-consecutive Superstakes triumph when she romped home in the small field at Caymanas Park yesterday, while her American-bred stablemate Stranger Danger did likewise in the Invitational Mile.
The two top guns enabled DaCosta to unsaddle three horses in the winners’ enclosure, the other being My Little Princess in the fourth race, as the LASCO Distributors Limited-sponsored Superstakes weekend of racing at Caymanas Park ended yesterday.
After winning the iCool Strawberry Banana maiden condition race with My Litter Princess (Phillip Parchment), DaCosta added the 6th running of the $2.5-million Lyrix Soft Drink Invitational Mile with Stranger Danger, and closed out a splendid day in the 41st running of the $6-million iCool Juice Drink Superstakes.
While Stranger Danger was impressive in the one-mile (1,600m) event in romping home to his ninth career win on the trot from as many starts in a new Stakes Record time of 1:36.3 minutes, it was the former Triple Crown winner She’s A Maneater who warmed the heart of DaCosta.
The mare accomplished one of the rarest feats in the history of racing at Caymanas Park when she became the first mare, and third horse overall, to have won the 10-furlong (2,000m) Superstakes three or more times in a row. The “Queen” of local horse racing now joins Mark My Word, who had won in 2010, 2011 and 2012 with three wins; and is only one behind Menudo, who had won in 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002.
Stranger Danger won his race by seven lengths, ahead of stable companion Uncle Frank and Fayrouz, while S he’s A Maneater defeated Toona Ciliata (Linton Steadman) and Sentient (Ameth Robles) by three and three quarters of a length in a time of 2:05.2 minutes.
“The feeling right now is great. It is even greater to win one, much less two, and so I am extremely elated that I won two races — especially with She’s A Maneater,” DaCosta told the Jamaica Observer.
“I mean she has always been great and she has been my back-up. Whenever the stable runs down she always delivers, and so I am extremely happy for me, my family, Winston Kong [owner] and also for ‘Maneater’ because she is a class horse and for her to win three Superstakes in a row, it is just phenomenal,” DaCosta added.
Omar Walker, who was aboard both Stranger Danger and She’s A Maneater, had booted home Harry’s Train to victory in the ninth event, for trainer Ian Parsard to also close out a three-timer on the card.
Racing continues on Saturday.