Another winner for Ryan Darby

Trainer Ryan Darby registered his ninth win for the season when Sir Puddington won the four-year-old and upwards Optional Claiming ($250,000 – $200,000) over 7 ½ furlongs (1,500m).

Sir Puddington was held in second place by jockey Matthew Bennett down the backstretch behind General Mubaraak (Romario Spencer) as Senor Kwanzi (Oshadane Robinson) and Nasdaq Princess (Gordon Gregory) trailed.

The two front-runners maintain their steady gallop until approaching the distance when Sir Puddington took control, looking strong on the headline. Although General Mubaraak tried to stage a rally, Sir Puddington proved too strong in the end, winning by two lengths in a time of 1:37.2.

General Mubaraak held on well for second place with Quora, the mount of Dane Nelson, getting up for third place.

Purple Wayne in easy romp

Purple Wayne easily obliged as the favourite in a three-year-old and upwards Claimer ($750,000-$600,000), winning by 5 ½ lengths at one mile (1,600m).

The Robert Pearson trainee was not in view after the start of the race as the five-year-old bay gelding raced among the backmarkers. Purple Wayne came into contention leaving the six-furlong (1,200m) marker when he slipped down into fifth place behind Graydon (Romario Spencer), Hot Ice (Omar Simpson), Bimini (Christopher Mamdeen) and Night Light (Shane Ellis).

Purple Wayne then went in chase of Bimini who took over navigating the half-mile (800m) turn, before hitting the front full of running at the top of straight. With a couple of cracks from Nelson, Purple Wayne accelerated and drew off to win easily ahead of Night Light and Lazer Light (Linton Steadman) running on in the end. The final time for the event was 1:42.1.

‘Jah ’ finally sends his ‘Blessings’

Three -year-old bay filly Jahsendblessings ( Western Classic – Princess Lorna ), after 11 career starts inclusive of four second-place finishes, finally found her head in front at the wire when she fought all the way to win Division 1 of a native-bred three-year-old maiden special weight event over five furlongs (1,000m) round.

Jockey Aaron Chatrie got the Steven Todd-trained Jahsendblessings out of the starting gates in good order as the bay filly held a slim lead over Prime One (Jerome Innis), Diamond Star (Samantha Fletcher) and Midnight Blue (Javaniel Patterson).

Navigating the half-mile (800m) turn, Jahsendblessings was pressed all the way by Midnight Blue coming into the lane and after dealing with that first challenge had to withstand the late surge of Tequila Blue (Tevin Foster), winning by 1 ¼ lengths.

Midnight Blue held on for third place with the final time recorded at 1:03.3.

Mr Universe comes good down the straight

Owned by Deleta Brewster, trained by Gregory Forsyth and ridden by Anthony Thomas, seven-year-old chestnut horse Mr Universe scored a 1 ¾ lengths win in a three-year-old and upwards Claiming contest ($1,000,000 – $800,000) down the five-straight course.

Mr Universe got a flyer and shot to the front at the start of the race, comfortably ahead of rivals. Mr Universe, with every stride taken, drew away from rivals, looking the winner coming across the dummy rails.

Slowly into stride , Universal Boss, under Dane Nelson, got going inside the final furlong, it was too late as Mr Universe was too strong. Raw Liquid (Roger Hewitt) came through for third place. The final time was 59.1.

Twelve horses claimed

The claiming box was kept busy as 12 horses went through on the 11-race card.

In the first event, champion trainer Anthony Nunes claimed Burlin for owner Stephan Narinesingh for $250,000 from Dennis Pryce.

Fitzgerald Richards claimed Garrincha for owner Laura McLaren from Steven Todd; Victor Williams claimed Purple Wayne for owner Soldier Camp from Robert Pearson and Michael Francis claimed Key Witness for owner Charles Walsh from Alford Brown from the third race. All horses in the third event were claimed for $750,000 each.

In the fifth race, Renex Burrell claimed Chief of State for owner Edward Hinds from Ryan Darby, Lawrence Freemantle claimed Balazo for owner Carlton Watson from Nicholas Smith, Dennis Pryce claimed Okahumpka for owner Vernaldo Scott from Errol Pottinger, Joseph Thomas claimed Gimmipalinka for owner Donovan May from Patrick Lynch, Raymond Townsend claimed Buckaluck for himself from Phillip Lee and Tyrone Prince claimed Papa Albert for owner Real Youth Connections from Gary Subratie. The horses from the fifth event were claimed at a tag of $350,000 each.

Raymond Townsend claimed Peking Cruz for himself for $1 million from Richard Azan, while Byron Davis claimed Universal Boss for owner Glendon Drummond also for $1 million from Anthony Nunes from the sixth race.