GONE A NEGRIL REACHES OVERNIGHT ALLOWANCE

Five-year-old chestnut horse Gone A Negril won his fourth race for the season in a three-year-old and upwards Optional Claiming ($550,000-$450,000) spread that also included five-year-olds and upwards (non-winners of four) at five furlongs (1,000m) straight.

Gone A Negril broke behind the early leaders and watched as True Al Sky (Javaniel Patterson), Sir Kel (Matthew Bennett), and Lord Burkington (Dane Dawkins) compete for the headline advantage.

Coming across the dummy rails the Patrick Lynch-conditioned Gone A Negril slipped down into second place behind Sir Kel who continued to chart the course.

Gone A Negril then responded well from the urgings of jockey Reyan Lewis and got up to beat Sir Kel by a length and a half at the wire. True Al Sky finished third, with the final time recorded at 1:04.1 after splits of 24.1 x 48.4.

With that fourth victory, Gone To Negril, now qualifies to race in the Overnight Allowance grouping.

NICHOLAS SMITH OFF THE MARK IN 2023

Trainer Nicholas Smith saddled his first winner for the year from his first start when his charge, Breaking Storm, made all in a five-year-old and upwards Optional Claiming ($180,000-$150,000) call that also included six-year-olds and upwards (non-winners of two) over five furlongs (1,000m) round.

Breaking Storm shot to the front at the off under jockey Matthew Bennett, and led the field into the half-mile (800m) turn ahead of Estalia (Ramon Nepare), Matriarch (Roger Hewitt), and Senor Kwanzi (Anthony Allen).

Approaching the distance, Breaking Storm upped the tempo and brought the field into the lane on a merry clip, looking all over the winner.

The eight-year-old dark bay/brown horse Breaking Storm wasted no time in deep stretch and powered home to score by a city block. Breaking Storm won by 14½ lengths ahead of Matriarch and Hail Mary (Shane Richardson) in a time of 1:04.3 (24.3 x 49.3).

BELLA SOUL FINALLY RELEASES MAIDEN TAG

Bella Soul, after seven career starts including three second-place finishes, finally found her head in front at the wire in a native-bred three-year-old maiden event at five furlongs on the round course.

With Dane Dawkins riding for trainer Gary Subratie, Bella Soul dashed to the front at the off and carried the field into the half-mile turn ahead of Mr Wonderful (Ramon Nepare) and Tuts (Javaniel Patterson).

Approaching the distance, Bella Soul was challenged by Tuts and the two drew off into a battle of their own entering the straight. Tuts gained a slim lead in deep stretch but Dawkins kept his mount well-balanced on the inside, with Bella Soul finding extra and drawing off to win by 7 ¾ lengths.

Tuts finished in second place, some 2¼ lengths ahead of Mr Wonderful in third place. The final time for the race was 1:03.3 (24.1 x 48.1).

BAZINGA RETURNS IN STYLE

Bazinga, returning from a five-month break, got up in the nick of time to win a native-bred three-year-old and upwards (non-winners of two) and imported three-year-olds and upwards (maidens) travelling five furlongs straight.

With Oneil Mullings riding for many-times champion trainer Philip Feanny, Bazinga broke well at the start of the race and disputed the lead with Kem (Javaniel Patterson) and De Lye La (Reyan Lewis). However, passing the dummy rails De Lye La emerged as the lone leader ahead of Kem and Bazinga.

De Lye La failed to keep up her gallop moving across the track in the final furlongs which gave Bazinga a better opportunity, with Mullings gladly obliging with a strong run on her inside to get up in the nick of time for the win.

The three-year-old bay filly Bazinga won by ¾ length ahead De Lye La and Kem in a time of 1:03.1 (23.0 x 46.3).

SEVEN HORSES CLAIMED

In the first race Norman Smith claimed Sudden Flight for owner Aston Ramsay for $550,000 from Adrian Prince, and trainer Damon Gayle claimed Sir Kel for owner Rupert Gayle, also for $550,000, from Ryan Darby.

Ricardo Brown claimed winner of the second race Breaking Storm for himself for $180,000 from Nicholas Smith.

In the fifth race Richard Phillipps claimed Mister Mandate for owner Felecia Gordon from Steven Todd, Donovan Hutchinson claimed Whizz Kidd for owner Narco from Rudolph Hardial, Phillip Lee claimed Ajita for owner Shushana Lowden from David Lee Sin, and Nicholas Smith claimed Donalmighty for owner Sylvester Subaran from Ryan Darby. All four horses from the fifth event were claimed for $750,000 each.