Member of Parliament for the Portland Eastern constituency Ann-Marie Vaz enjoyed her birthday in grand style on Saturday, March 13 when three-year-old filly Action Ann — named after her — got up in the final stride to win the 27th running of the Hotline Stakes at Caymanas Park.

After the race co-owner and breeder Howard Hamilton stopped just shy of saying the Christopher Pearson-trained filly will sweep all her Classic races.

“I am very satisfied with the performance, all credit to the trainer for the result. We are going to win Thornbird Stakes, then the Guineas and hopefully, we will be in the Derby and will win that one too,” Hamilton said.

“I am so happy for this victory because it was a birthday gift for Ann-Marie Vaz and it is also a statement that Daryl Vaz, the other co-owner, and I are making that political tribalism has to stop. Here we are together a PNP (People’ National Party) activist and a JLP (Jamaica Labour Party) activist running together and enjoying life together. We are all on the same journey with one goal in mind, better living and prosperity for all Jamaicans,” the outspoken Hamilton said.

Even though Action Ann was bumped shortly after the start, she was still able to collar rivals close home in the Restricted Allowance V, non-winners of two event for fillies only at six furlongs (1,200m).

That performance for Pearson, who celebrated his birthday the day after on Sunday, March 14, underlined the credentials of Action Ann, who was racing for the first time this year.

Action Ann ( Sensational Slam – Ladylike), in her fourth outing as a two-year-old, clocked a decent 1:25.1, when winning at seven furlongs.

“When she won that race, she went through a little patch, so we took our time with her and sorted it out. This win is encouraging and exciting, the race was very difficult but very enjoyable,” Pearson said.

He added that the focus for Action Ann will now shift to the Thornbird Stakes.

“The aim is to keep her very sound and very fit and I know she will do well in the Classics. I am not sure if she will win all the Classic races, but I know she will win one or two. We will see how she comes out of this race and then we take it from there.

Action Ann took a hit at the break, forcing many-time champion Omar Walker to catch up, as the speedy Sure Curlin (Robert Halledeen) and Three Times Lucky (Anthony Thomas) dictated the headlines. Secret Identity (Linton Steadman) and Silver Hawk (Dick Cardenas) were the closest pursuers leaving the half-mile.

By then Action Ann was under strong urging from Walker to get closer, as Sure Curlin pulled away from Three Times Lucky when they straightened for the stretch run.

Secret Identity soon went by S ure Curlin on the inside rails leaving the furlong pole, with Action Ann now producing her strongest gallop on the outside.

Walker, in rapid fire motion with the left-hand whip, ensured that Action Ann found enough to nip Secret Identity by a neck. Sure Curlin finished third.

Though the final time of 1:14.3 behind splits of 23.1 and 46.4 seconds was nothing to write home about, Walker pointed out that things would have been different had he not been interfered with.

“She got off slow and I just held her and once I started to ride, she ( Action Ann) responded, so I was very confident. I think she needed the run, but she is a class horse that much I can tell you, as once I placed the whip in the left hand she started to fly. But if I didn’t get the hit early on, I think she would have won a lot easier,” Walker said.