The Jamaica Oaks, the fifth and final Classic of the 2022 season of Futurities, was featured on the nine-race card, which was deservedly won by Robert Pearson’s Our Angel (2/1).

This consistent filly was beaten nearly 17 lengths by subsequent Derby winner Atomica in the 1000 Guineas then won over 1,400 metres in good style. Second-generation conditioner Pearson, whose dad Anthony won the 2000 Guineas and the Derby with a colt named Cesario in 1982, was enjoying his first Classic success. Clearly, he instructed jockey Reyan Lewis to get to the head of the 2000-metre gallop as early as possible. Lewis executed the tactics as dictated by the trainer confidently for Our Angel to score by five lengths in the most convincing fashion.

The opening event on the pleasant rather than exciting afternoon of racing went to the Errol Subratie-trained 1/5 favourite Smarty Tradition who was gifted the purse, with five opponents not capable of competing with him successfully. The most frequently utilised claiming jockey Roger Hewitt, with 16 wins now from 261 rides this season, was able to sit straight up in the saddle over the duration of the 1,000 metres round gallop.

Race two was won by débutante grey Snowflakes (4/5) schooled by Colin Ferguson with 2019 champion Christopher Mamdeen breaking her sharply and persuaded the filly to make all the running in landing the odds. Half an hour later in the 1,400-metre race three, 11/1 shot Diosa De Oro (Ramon Nepare) chased the early pacemaker Fabulosity and wrested the lead at the top of the home straight and held on by a short head for trainer Marlon Anderson’s eighth success from 67 starts this season.

Another gift was in the offing in the 1,100-metre fourth event with the Parick Lynch’s 1/9 backed Executive Chief skittering home by just over five lengths to give season-leading reinsman Dane Dawkins his first of two wins on the day.

In race five, Dawkins followed up to secure the natural double aboard Gary Subratie’s hard-knocking gelding Traditional Boy (4-1). The four-year-gelding, bred and owned by singer Freddie McGregor, was almost four lengths clear of 12 rivals when the gallop over 1,400 metres came to an end.

Following the tradition of the late, former race-caller and administrator Chris Armond, track announcers Brian Rickman and Kevin Burnside have sobriquets for certain riders, and “Terrific” Tevin Foster went a long way in justifying his lofty designation. His victory aboard Nicholas Smith’s Versatile Vision (3-1) in the 1400-metre sixth event was beyond special. Leading from the top of the straight, Foster’s balance and alternating use of whip hands combined with reins only in the closing stages secured victory with the third finisher beaten by only two short heads.

Race seven over 1,100 metres produced some more excitement with former six-time champion Omar Walker’s flashing late run to overtake battling long-time leaders Gracefully Made, Babylike and Minidewak. Trained by Jason DaCosta, Pretty Girl won at odds of 6/5.

Race eight was a precursor to Reyan Lewis’s best seasonal day in the saddle with the Classic success as the closer. A seven-and-a-half-length runaway over 1,200 metres was the measured dominance of champion Anthony Nunes’ maiden winner Wowtastic with Lewis not required to assist.

The Training Feat Award is presented to Robert Pearson for his first Classic success with Our Angel’s newly discovered front-running ability for the filly to deliver the Best Winning Gallop in the feature. Reyan Lewis was recognised with the Jockeyship Award for his enterprise aboard stallion Savoy Stomp, his first Classic winner.