I Realise takes Bridge 99FM Cup in close thriller
I Realise, under a well-executed ride from jockey Tevin Foster, narrowly held on in an exciting, driving finish to the line to win the third running of the $1.25-million Bridge 99FM Cup, the major feature event on Saturday’s 10-race card at Caymanas Park.
Foster, in one of his best rides, ensured the Alford Brown-trained I Realise won by a short head over the fast-finishing and 99-1 long shot Rainsville (Javaniel Patterson) in the Overnight Allowance race for three-year-olds and upward over seven and a half furlongs (1,500m).
I Realise, who had just returned from a 154-day rest, didn’t appear to be stressed when he won in a time of 1:32.0, the fastest he has ever run over this distance.
I Realise broke off well at the start of the race and quickly assumed the lead ahead of Morimoto (Oshane Nugent) and Brinks (Omar Walker) leaving the intersection at the seven-furlong (1,400m) marker. The four-year-old bay gelding I Realise maintained a steady gallop down the backstretch before he upped the tempo navigating the half-mile (800m) turn.
I Realise came off the final bend with Morimoto applying pressure, but Foster got I Realise to change through gears in deep stretch and the Northern Giant offspring then began to pull away from the challenge.
Inside the final stages of the race Rainsville, who hugged the inside rails, had cut the turn entering the drive and came with a strong run, but he was unable to overhaul I Realise and had to settle for second money. Morimoto finished in third place with quarterly splits of 23.4 x 46.4 x 1:11.0.
Brown saddled his second winner for the day with Gracefully Made (Raddesh Roman), who made all the running to win the 10th and final event over six furlongs (1,200m).
Meanwhile Atlantic Convoy, trained by Patrick Lynch and ridden by Oshane Nugent, won the ninth running of the $1.19-million Ronron Trophy, a Restricted Stakes contest for imported three-year-olds and upward (non-winners of three) and native-bred three-year-olds and four-year-olds (non-winners of four) over six furlongs.
The Canadian-bred Atlantic Convoy won the event by a length and a half in a time of 1:13.0 (23.2 x 47.2), beating Divine Force (Reyan Lewis) and Milos (Tevin Foster).
Racing continues next Saturday.