Racing News — Sunday, June 25, 2023
HEROINE A WINNER WITH EQUIPMENT CHANGE
Heroine, after 14 starts, was able to get the job done in a maiden condition race for native-bred four-year-olds and upwards over 5½ furlongs (1,100m).
With Chalrick Budhai riding for owner/trainer Barrington Bernard, Heroine, running with the visor off, got a good break, chasing Another Wave (Shamaree Muir) from second position going into the half-mile (800m).
Still pursuing Another Wave coming into the lane, Heroine produced a late run on the outside and got up when it mattered most for the win. Heroine won by a neck ahead of Another Wave, with Millinium Star (Odeen Edwards) getting third place.
It was also the first win of the season for Budhai. After splits of 24.1 x 49.0, the final time was recorded at 1:11.4.
JOHNNY WILMOT OFF THE MARK IN 2023
Trainer Johnny Wilmot saddled his first winner for the season after his charge Storm Valley won a three-year-old and upwards Optional Claiming ($250,000-$200,000) race that included six-year-olds and upwards (non-winners of three) and native-bred five-year-olds and upwards (maidens) travelling six furlongs (1,200m).
Storm Valley was relaxed by Shane Richardson, racing in third place in the four-horse field at the break. Going into the half-mile turn, Storm Valley began to progress, joining Nina Dorada and Purple Wayne on the front end.
Nina Dorada and Storm Valley pulled away from Purple Wayne as they entered the lane for the last two furlongs (200 m) of the drive. With neither Nina Dorada nor Storm Valley giving anything away, Richardson kept his mount well balanced on the outside, and Storm Valley proved the stronger of the two, winning by a short head.
Purple Wayne finished in third place in a final time of 1:20.3 (23.0 x 49.1).
SENSATIONAL ENDING IN THE NICK OF TIME
Sensational Ending, trained by Jason DaCosta and ridden by Reyan Lewis, got up in the nick of time to beat rivals in a three-year-old and upwards Optional Claiming ($400,000-$300,000) spread that also included six-year-olds and upwards (non-winners of four) going 6 ½ furlongs (1,300m).
Sensational Ending raced in midpack down the backstretch as Kingswood (Raddesh Roman) showed the way from early ahead of Action Run (Tevin Foster) and Kiah (Anthony Allen). Going into the half-mile turn, Sensational Ending was still labouring behind the leaders as Action Run and Kiah vied for the ascendency way ahead of Devonte` (Matthew Bennett).
Turning for home and going four wide in deep stretch, Lewis produced his mount for an effort, and Sensational Ending responded well to get up and beat Kiah by a length at the finish. Colawill (Ramon Nepare) came from behind the runners to get third place. The final time was 1:25.2 (24.0 x 48.3 x 1:16.3).
PRINCE SANJAY GOES ONE BETTER
After finishing a close second at the races on June 18 over the straight (1,000m), the Steven Todd-conditioned Prince Sanjay returned and went one better in a native-bred four-year-old and upwards (non-winners of two) and imported four-year-olds and upward (maidens) at 5 ½ furlongs (1,100m).
Prince Sanjay raced one position from the back at the start, watching as Dream of Paris (Paul Francis) led the field ahead of Minidewak (Javaniel Patterson) and Airstream (Roger Hewitt). Airstream surrounded horses and carried the field into the half-mile ahead of Dream of Paris and Minidewak as Prince Sanjay made slight improvement on the leaders.
Going wide at the top of the home bend, Prince Sanjay, found an extra gear and came with a strong run in the final stages of the race to win, going away by 2 ¼ lengths.
Mindewak finished in second place, with Rani Bangala (Oneil Mullings) getting third. The final time was clocked at 1:09.1 with splits of 24.0 x 47.4.
SEVEN HORSES CLAIMED
In the second race, Donovan Russell claimed Nina Dorada for owner Michael Russell for $250,000 from trainer Dale Murphy, while Delroy Wisdom claimed Storm Valley for owner Big Dee Racing Stables, also for $250,000, from trainer Johnny Wilmot.
Ray Phillips claimed Sensational Ending for owner Philip A Edwards from trainer Jason DaCosta, Delroy Wisdom claimed Action Run for owner Oshaun Graham from trainer Errol Waugh, and Renex Burrell claimed Devonte’ for owner Winston Lewis from Gregg Fennell from the third race. All three horses were claimed for $400,000 each.
In the fifth race, Steven Todd claimed Turnonthelight for owner Delroy Wellington for $750,000 from trainer Robert Ffrench and Gresford Smith claimed G T Boy for owner Desmond Dallas, also for $750,000, from trainer Anthony Nunes.