IN a dominating performance Positive ID, trained by Michael Marlowe, easily brushed aside rivals to win the Heroes’ Day Stakes Trophy, the main feature on the nine-race card to end the three-race Heroes’ Day carnival of racing at Caymanas Park on Monday (October 17, 2022).

Bred by Bern Identity out of the Hail Orphan mare Bubble Gal Bubble, Positive ID came from behind horses to lash Classical Orb and Iannai Links by 3 lengths going away in the native-bred four-year-old and upwards (non-winners of two) contest going one mile (1,600m).

Ridden by Reyan Lewis, Positive ID was not the quickest away from the starting barriers, but recovered while racing on the inside rails to go down into third place behind Rusty (Tevin Foster) and Iannai Links (Dane Dawkins) down the backstretch. Positive ID maintained a steady gallop despite Iannai Links taking over the lead heading into the half-mile (800m) turn.

Lewis let loose the reins on Positive ID while circling the turn and, in a flash, the four-year-old bay colt hit the front full of running at the top of the straight. Positive ID went on to win in a time of 1:39.4, backed by splits of 24.2 x 46.4 x 1:11.4.

Tevin Foster was the toast among the riders after booting home two winners, including Lightning McQueen in the $840,000 Norman Manley Memorial Cup supporting feature over five furlongs (1,000m) round.

Trained by Alford Brown, Lightning McQueen made one move to win the three-year-old and upwards claiming ($750,000-$600,000) call by a length and three quarters ahead of stablemate Alexa’s Lodge (Jerome Innis) in a time of 1:01.2. Foster’s other winner was Okahumpka for trainer Ryan Williams in the fifth race. No trainer won able to win more than one race on the day.

Trainer Robert Ffrench saddled his first career winner after his charge, Ultimate Machine (Roger Hewitt), racing for the first time, won the third race over five furlongs round in convincing manner.

The Heroes Day nightcap saw the reappearance of the Richard Azan-trained Slammer to the winners’ enclosure. Slammer, now a three-year-old, was considered to be one of the better two-year-olds of last season, but his career has been hampered by injury, which saw him undergoing an operation to remove bone chips. On Heroes Day, Slammer, with Omar Walker in the saddle was racing for the first time in 324 days.

Racing continues on Saturday with the running of the seven-furlong Gold Cup, the top handicapping race on the local calendar.