ERROL OFF THE MARK IN 2023

Trainer Errol Waugh saddled his first winner in 2023 after his charge True Al Sky easily won a three-year-old and upwards Optional Claiming ($550,000-$450,000) spread that included six-year-olds and upwards (non-winners of three) and native-bred five-year-olds and upwards (maidens) over 5½ furlongs (1,100m).

True Al Sky was left flat-footed at the start of the race but coupled up nicely on the outside of runners to go down in second position behind stablemate Action Run (Tevin Run) navigating the half-mile (800m) turn. True Al Sky then joined Action Run entering the straight for the last two furlongs (400m) of the race, before hitting the front inside the last furlong (200m).

True Al Sky kept up her work well inside the final stages of the race to win the event by 3¾ lengths, going away from stablemate Action Run. Finishing in third place was Wowza (Reyan Lewis) in a final time of 1:09.4 (23.4 x 48.0). Both True Al Sky and Action Run are owned by David Reid.

CONSISTENCY PAYS OFF FOR HOPENPERSEVERANCE

Hopenperseverance, after finishing off the board twice in her last 10 starts, was rewarded for her consistency in a native-bred five-year-old and upwards (non-winners of two) and imported five-year-olds and upwards (maidens) going 5½ furlongs.

Trained by Ryan Darby and ridden by Tevin Foster, Hopenperseverance broke off well with the five-year-old chestnut mare settled in second place behind Dotlin (Natalie Berger). Hopenperseverance lost ground heading into the half-mile turn as JB Flyer (Shavon Townsend) and Magic Bullet (Roger Hewitt) went by.

Turning for home in fourth place, when all seemed lost inside the final furlong, Foster produced his mount for a last effort and Hopenperseverance responded well, powering away from rivals to win by 2½ lengths in a time of 1:12.0.

Magic Bullet finished in second place, with Avenging Angel (Matthew Bennett) getting up for third place ahead of Dotlin.

DAnCING WITH A CAT LANDS MASSIVE 50-1 UPSET

Dancing With A Cat, running with the cheekpieces off, created a massive upset when beating rivals at odds of 50-1 in a Maiden Condition race for native-bred four-year-olds and upward at 7 furlongs (1,400m).

With Sadiki Blake riding for breeder, owner, and trainer Carl Anderson, Dancing With A Cat raced in second place behind Salud (Matthew Bennett), with Prissie (Linton Steadman) in third place down the backstretch. Dancing With A Cat maintained her gallop well until approaching the distance, when Prissie went by to go in pursuit of Salud, opening up six lengths on the front end.

Hugging the inside rails in deep stretch, Dancing With A Cat came with a strong run and outbattled Prissie to the wire, winning by three quarters of a length in the end in a time of 1:32.4 (24.2 x 48.2 x 1:16.0). Finishing in third place was Sneaky Joe (Phillip Parchment).

Last Dance (Dane Dawkins) finished in third place but was disqualified and placed fourth for causing intimidation and interference to Sneaky Joe in the final 300 metres of the race.

GOLDEN SYRUP MAKES WINNING START

Three-year-old grey filly Golden Syrup, from the barn of Anthony Nunes, made a winning start to her career in Division 1 of a Maiden Condition race for native-bred three-year-olds over four furlongs (800m).

Ridden by Tevin Foster, Golden Syrup raced just behind the early pacesetters – Just Have Fun (Omar Simpson) and Lambo Girl (Sadiki Blake). As the runners sorted themselves out by passing the dummy rails, Just Have Fun and Lambo Girl continued to match strides up front as Golden Syrup began to make gains on the leaders.

Inside the final furlong, Golden Syrup came through and went on to win the race by a neck, ahead of Roaring Thunder (Raddesh Roman). Lambo Girl filled the third slot as the final time was recorded at 49.1.

SIX HORSES CLAIMED

Alford Brown claimed Custer for himself for $550,000 from Welsh Soutar, and Nicholas Smith claimed Wowza for himself for $550,000 from Ryan Darby in the second race.

In the sixth race Donovan Plummer claimed Sensational Satin for owner K & R Syndicate from Vincent Atkinson, and Joseph Thomas claimed Queen Deftiny for owner Henry Mitto from Dale Murphy. All the horses from the sixth event were claimed for $250,000 each.

Borris McIntosh claimed High Diplomacy for himself for $750,000 from Delroy Wisdom, and Gary Griffiths claimed JohncrowJeff for owner Carlton Foster for $750,000 from Jason DaCosta from the seventh race.