Alexa’s Secret, under a well-timed ride from the in-form Reyan Lewis, got up in the nick of time to beat rivals in the $1.02-million Titania Trophy feature race to kick off the three-race Heroes’ Day carnival of racing at Caymanas Park on Saturday.

After being outpaced in the early stages of the race, Alexa’s Secret exploded like a cannonball of blazing fire to beat Babylike (Dick Cardenas) and Rambling Rose (Aaron Chatrie) by a short head in a driving finish to the line. Alexa’s Secret completed the native-bred three-year-old Restricted Allowance II (non-winners) event for fillies over five-and-a-half furlongs (1,100m) in a time of 1:08.3.

Rambling Rose was ridden out of the starting gates to take up the lead and carried the field into the half-mile (800m) turn ahead of Market Place (Tevin Foster) and Berlino’s Choice, the mount of Samantha Fletcher. Approaching the distance, Rambling Rose upped the tempo and increased his lead ahead of rivals entering the drive, and at this time, Alexa’s Secret and Babylike were still labouring off the pace.

Rambling Rose looked all over the winner with a furlong (200m) to go, but Lewis produced his mount for an effort and Alexa’s Secret responded well and got up in time for the win as the 7-5 favourite. Splits for the race were 23.3 x 47.0.

Meanwhile, former champion Shane Ellis was the toast among the riders with two wins on the nine-race card as no trainer had more than one winner. Ellis was successful in the first race aboard Colorado Ranger for trainer Gary Griffiths and Oldkingcole in the fifth race for champion trainer Anthony Nunes.

After a three-year break from the sport due to injury, Andree Powell returned to competitive riding as she mounted Tiger Bella in the fourth race for trainer Donovan Plummer. It was a welcome 32nd birthday for Powell.

Also returning to competitive race riding was jockey Anthony Allen, who was suspended after being caught with an illegal electronic device in August of 2020.

‘It feels so good to return to something that I love. I am happy and I feel great. Three years is a very long time and I am grateful for the support from everyone,” Powell told OBSERVER ONLINE.

The three-race Heroes’ Day carnival of racing continues on Sunday with trophy races – the Betting, Gaming, and Lotteries Commission (BGLC)/TOBA Heroes Dash and the main feature, the Errol “Big Sub” Subratie.

— Ruddy Allen