Trainer DaCosta saddles four winners to steal spotlight
JASON DaCosta gave racing fans another glimpse of his conditioning skills when he saddled four winners, including during two of the four major stakes races, to bring fireworks to the 10-race programme at Caymanas Park on Saturday.
DaCosta’s winners were highlighted with a fast run by three-year-old American-bred bay/brown filly Madelyn’s Sunshine who made one move to win the $1.14-million Vassell “Jolly Man” Memorial Trophy over five and a half furlongs (1,100m).
Madelyn’s Sunshine, ridden by champion jockey Anthony Thomas, easily brushed aside rivals by an impressive nine lengths in the three-year-olds and upward Overnight Allowance event. The fleet-footed runner stopped the clock in an eye-catching 1:04.3.
DaCosta’s other stakes win was with Thalita who got up in time to win the $1.06-million Princess Popstar, a native-bred and imported two-year-old Restricted Allowance 11 race over five and a half furlongs (1,100m). Also ridden by Thomas, Thalita won the event by a length and three quarters in 1:06.1. Both Madelyn’s Sunshine and Thalita are owned by Carlton Watson.
His other winners were Iannai Links in the opening race and She’s My Friend in the fifth race. Both horses were ridden by Reyan Lewis.
Lewis also won aboard Prefect Brew in the $1.09-million Royal Dady Trophy to complete three winners on the day. Perfect Brew, trained by Richard Azan, won by 4 1/4 lengths over Sunset Silhoutte (Thomas) and D Head Cornerstone (Dane Dawkins) in the Restricted Stakes event over nine furlongs and 25 yards (1,820m).
Meanwhile, Calculus further strengthened his status as the top stayer in the country after brushing aside rivals in the $1.29-million Mark My Word Trophy, the main attraction of the day.
Although leaving it until late, the Gary Subratie-conditioned and Shane Ellis-ridden Calculus was a comfortable three-length winner over American-bred Runaway Algo (Christopher Mamdeen) in the three-year-olds and upward Open Allowance contest over the circular course of nine furlongs and 25 yards (1,820m).
Calculus, who was registering his third-consecutive victory, won in a time of 1:54.2. Money Monster (Youville Pinnock) finished third.
Racing continues next weekend with a three-day Heroes’ Day carnival of racing on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.
— Ruddy Allen
