IN what only can be described as his best performance to date, the Jason DaCosta-conditioned I Am Fred produced a thunderous run in deep stretch to collar the top-rated and 1-9 favourite Mahogany in the $1.75-million None Such Trophy feature race at Caymanas Park yesterday.

I Am Fred, who was sent off at odds of 8-1 in the field of nine, won the three-year-olds and upward Open Allowance/Graded Stakes contest over six furlongs (1,200m) by a short head in a time of 1:11.3. King Arthur was scratched from the event.

I Am Fred got a reasonable break at the start of the race as he settled in mid-pack and watched stablemate Make Up Artist (Jordan Barrett) lead the island’s best thoroughbred, Mahogany. Navigating the half-mile (800m) turn when Mahogany took over control from Make Up Artist, jockey Christopher Mamdeen sent down I Am Fred in third place in chase of the leaders.

Turning for home, jockey Dane Dawkins looked across his right shoulder as he got rid of Make Up Artist but failed to see I Am Fred creeping up on the inside rails — which turned out to be the decisive moment of the race. Mamdeen kept his mount well-balanced and I Am Fred, in a run for the ages, nipped Mahogany on the wire for the win. I Am Fred’s stable companion Lure of Lucy (Jerome Innis) finished third.

I Am Fred closed out a brilliant triple for DaCosta as the current leading conditioner had earlier saddled two-year-old Thalita to victory in the day’s second race and Madelyn’s Sunshine in the seventh race. Both Thalita and Madelyn’s Sunshine are owned by current leader Carlton Watson and were ridden by champion jockey Anthony Thomas.

Those winners helped DaCosta increase his lead over main rival and three-time defending champion Anthony Nunes, and owner Watson, to also increase him ahead of Oakridge Farms, while Thomas was able to cut into Dane Dawkins’ lead atop of the jockey’s standing.

Nunes, however, had a double on the 10-race programme as he was successful with Thalos (Shane Ellis) in the eighth race and Bern Notice (Tevin Foster) in the final event. Ellis rode Secret Emperor to victory in the third for a double also.

Thomas, who had started the day on 65 winners, took his tally to 67 winners, six wins behind Dawkins on 73 winners. Dawkins was winless on the day.

Racing continues today with another 10-race card. The feature event is the $1.14-million Kenneth Mattis OD Memorial Trophy going nine furlongs and 25 yards (1,820m). Post time is 12:10 pm.

— Ruddy Allen