RACING NEWS FOR SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2023
FEARLESS SOUL MAKES IT TWO FROM TWO
Fearless Soul, trained by many-time champion conditioner Philip Feanny, romped home to his second-consecutive victory from as many starts, in the third running of the Reggae 6 Anniversary Trophy.
The three-year-old chestnut colt Fearless Soul, who was administered Lasix for the first time, came from behind horses to beat rivals by a length and a half. The race was for native three-year-olds (non-winners of two) and imported three-year-olds and upwards (maidens) over six furlongs (1,200m).
With Kerry-Gayl Robinson in the saddle Fearless Soul raced just off the pace at the start as Babla (Youville Pinnock) led the field ahead of Digital Light (Anthony Allen). Fearless Soul wasted no time, slipping into second position and going in chase of Babla navigating the half-mile (800m) turn.
Turning for home under a hand ride, Fearless Soul took control of the contest inside the furlong (200m) pole and went on to win ahead of Slam Dunk (Raddesh Roman) and Cookie Day N Night (Dane Dawkins). The race finished in a time of 1:13.4 (22.3 x 47.0).
ONE-TWO FINISH FOR TRAINER COURTNEY WILLIAMS
Trainer Courtney Williams had the distinction of saddling the top two finishers in the Reggae Medley Trophy after his charges Expeditious and Colawill came home first and second, respectively, in the 5½-furlong (1,100m) contest.
Nina Dorada (Javaniel Patterson) showed the early way at the start of the race, ahead of Colawill (Phillip Parchment), Expeditious (Ramon Nepare), and XY Soul (Anthony Allen). Going into the half-mile turn Nina Dorada upped the tempo on rivals and looked all set to go gate to the wire when she brought the field into the lane at a merry clip.
Expeditious hugged the inside rails and produced a strong run in deep stretch to overhaul Nina Dorada and Colawill at the furlong pole, running out an easy 7¼-length win at the line in the three-year-old and upward Optional Claiming ($250,000-$200,000) race that included six-year-olds and upward (non-winners of four) and native-bred five-year-olds and upward (non-winners of two).
Colawill was a clear second, some four lengths ahead of Nina Dorada in third place. The final time for the race was 1:10.1 (23.4 x 48.2)
PHILLIP LEE, RALPH ROBERTS OFF THE MARK IN 2023
Trainers Phillip Lee and Ralph Roberts each saddled their first winner for the season when their charges Ajita and Great Wayne won their respective races.
Lee saddled Ajita in the Reggae Vibes Trophy, a three-year-old and upwards Optional Claiming ($750,000-$600,000) event over 7½ furlongs (1,500m), while Roberts won with Great Wayne in the Reggae Rocksteady Trophy, a native-bred four-year-olds and upward (non-winners of two) and imported four-year-olds and upward (maidens) over one mile (1,600m).
Ridden by Matthew Bennett, Ajita made all the running to beat Another Bullet (Bebeto Harvey) and Sheboom (Dane Dawkins) by seven lengths in a time of 1:35.2 (24.2 x 47.3 x 1:12.3).
With Roger Hewitt in the saddle Great Wayne easily won by eight lengths ahead of Salud (Samantha Fletcher) and Diamond Rock (Ramon Nepare). The winning time was 1:42.1 (24.4 x 48.0 x 1:15.0).
WAR HORSE RELEASES MAIDEN TAG
War Horse, after five career starts, was able to find the winning post in front for the Reggae Skanking Sweet Trophy, a maiden special weight event for native-bred three-year-olds over 5½ furlongs.
With Phillip Parchment riding for trainer Andrew McDonald, War Horse broke off well at the start of the race in third place and quickly surrounded horses going into the half-mile turn. War Horse led Princess Ria (Anthony Allen) and Ship Ahoy into the lane before the bay colt drew off in deep stretch to win the race by seven lengths.
Ship Ahoy finished in second place and Crucial Alexxya (Samantha Fletcher) came home in third place as the final time was recorded at 1:08.0 (23.4 x 47.3).
SIX CLAIMS
Tyrone Prince claimed Money Boy for owner Anthony Chin for $250,000 from Byron Davis from the second race.
Errol Burke claimed Fault Line for owner Randall Shaw for $750,000 from Jason DaCosta from the third race.
In the eighth race, Winchester McIntosh claimed Dodge This Link for owner Devon Brown from Michael Spencer; Junior Panton claimed horse Givemethelight for owner Derrick Satchell from Gary Griffiths; Joseph Thomas claimed Phenomenal One for owner KT Racing from Jason DaCosta; and Phillip Lee claimed Sir Kel for owner Errol Dickson from Damon Gayle. All horses from the eighth event were claimed at a price of $550,000 each.