‘Baba’ Nunes holds the aces in War Zone Sprint
FORMER three-time champion trainer Anthony “Baba” Nunes appears to have all the aces in today’s $1.19-million War Zone Sprint Trophy feature at Caymanas Park, sending out three of the best competitors in Legit Boss, Milos, and Volatility for the five-and-half-furlong (1,100m) event.
Legit Boss and Milos both underperformed in their past outings while Volatility was narrowly defeated.
Legit Boss and Volatility completed the same race on November 25 over the straight course (1,000m), with Legit Boss finishing 10th (defeated by 16 1/2 lengths) and Volatility finishing second, a length and quarter behind winner Burlap. Milos’s most recent race was on November 11 when he finished 13th by 27 1/2 lengths behind winner Sensational Move over six and a half furlongs (1,300m).
Legit Boss and Milos’s attempts may be ignored because they have already proven that they have class and talent, and racing among these, courageous bids are expected.
Milos stands out in this field since he is one of just two racers among the 12 to have won three races. All of the other runners have only been to the winners’ circle twice. Sensational Move, trained by Gary Subratie, is the other runner who has won three races and is anticipated to make his presence felt today.
Two of Milos’s victories have come this year, with the most recent being on August 26 when he won by a length and a half going six furlongs (1,200m). The three-year-old bay colt has worked pretty well coming into this race, having galloped 49.3 for four furlongs (800m) out of the straight on Friday, December 1. Tevin Foster returns to the saddle.
Legit Boss is yet to win in eight races this year but she has placed second twice, which could be an encouraging element today. Legit Boss arrived to the races as a Classic contender but several faltered and never contested in any Classic races. Legit Boss, a three-year-old bay filly, had previously defeated this year’s 1000 Guineas and Jamaica Oaks champion Mamma Mia. She has also come second behind Mojito, the winner of this year’s 2000 Guineas, and the promising American-bred Is That A Fact.
If Legit Boss can match those efforts then this race should be a stroll in the park, considering the racers stated are a thousand times better than this class. Raddesh Roman will be riding.
Volatility came up and fought to the end behind Burlap over the straight, after five disappointing races since winning on April 29. Volatility is known for speed, and if this bay filly can stay calm on the front end she might be difficult to catch; she is anticipated to be present when the race is decided. Leading rider Reyan Lewis has been tasked with completing this assignment.
The 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) is positioned as the ninth and final event on the card with a post time of 4:55 pm. First race is at noon.
Ones to watch:
Race 1) Prince Dominick/Just An Illusion/XY Soul
Race 2) Princess Cataleya/Shany Girl/Kaylyn Melody
Race 3) Natural Dancer/Hot Stepper/The LOve Of God
Race 4) Show Girl/Johncrowjeff/Rum With Me
Race 5) Queen Adele/Bigmanbiden/Lion Talk
Race 6) Adenosine/Salud/Noa Li
Race 7) Aria’s Reign/She’s A Mirage/Bella Soul
Race 8) Atomic Energy/Sugar Sugar/Texas Metal
Race 9) Milos/Volatility/Legit Boss