Today’s $2.5-million Chairman’s Trophy race promises to be an explosive duel between
Atomica
and
Rough Entry
, with both runners meticulously prepared and ready to showcase their unique abilities going over seven-and-a-half furlongs (1,500m).

Atomica (
Nuclear Wayne —
Honkeytonville) was recently voted as the Horse of the Year 2023 for the second-consecutive year.
Atomica raced seven times last year, winning five of them, including the Jamaica Cup over 9½ furlongs (1,900m).

Atomica faced
Rough Entry in the Mouttet Mile on December 2 of last year, but she lost her rider navigating the half-mile turn (800m), and that was that. She came back in the Ian Levy Cup on January 1 and won the eight-and-a-half furlong (1,700m) contest by 8 ½ lengths in a time of 1:43.4, beating
Is That A Fact.

In this small field,
Atomica should use her pace to her advantage, and if she left unmolested on the front, she could go all the way.

American-bred
Rough Entry (
Poseidon’s Warrior —
Dixie Ocean) came to the island for the US$150,000 Mouttet Mile on December 2, 2023 and didn’t disappoint his connections.
Rough Entry, who was suspect over the distance of a mile, sat behind runners and took up the running shortly after turning for home to win, going away by six lengths.

Rough Entry has been training well for his seasonal debut, and with the distance reduced by 100 metres, he surely can win again and prove that he is the real deal.

The Graded Stakes/Open Allowance contest for three-year-olds and upward is positioned as the seventh event on the 10-race card, with a post time of 3:25 pm. First race is at 11:40 am.

Despite some doubts about her ability versus top-tier competition,
Atomica could silence her detractors with a victory in the Chairman’s Trophy in which she carries 11 pounds lighter than
Rough Entry.

Atomica is known for her scorching pace, especially going two turns, and a victory would cement her legacy as one of the park’s best female runners. Dane Dawkins remains in the saddle for trainer Gary Subratie.

Returning after a convincing win in the Mouttet Mile,
Rough Entry’s class is indisputable. With his adoption of the local track it would be a formidable opponent. Shamaree Muir will ride for trainer Rohan Crichton.

The field is completed by
Rainsville,
Neo Star, and
Is That A Fact.

Is That A Fact has been doing well in his race
s and was an easy 8 ½-length winner in the Alexander Hamilton Trophy over one mile on January 27. He should go well here and could separate the top two if they should falter in deep stretch.

As the race progresses,
Atomica is likely to take the lead, with
Rough Entry stalking from the outside in the early furlongs, closely followed by
Is That A Fact. As the half-mile (800m) approaches,
Atomica is likely to pick up the pace, a vital point for
Rough Entry and
Is That A Fact to try to stop her from breaking away.
Rainsville and
Neo Star will try to make contact.

The real action will take place in the straight, whereby
Rough Entry and the lightly weighted
Is That A Fact will both challenge relentlessly.
Rough Entry will have the advantage inside the final furlong, with
Atomica and
Is That A Fact vying for second.

ONES TO WATCH

Race 1) Manaco/Prosecco/Drone Strike

Race 2) Hickory Slim/King Piye/Rock-Ola

Race 3) Biblical Legend/Sunshine Cat/Lion of Ekati

Race 4) Supreme Star/Nuttin But Trouble/Beautiful Bran

Race 5) Strike Smart/Super Alex/Secret Admiral

Race 6) Basilicus/Will The Conquerer/Phenomenal One

Race 7) Rough Entry/Atomica/Is That A Fact

Race 8) Don Pablo/Coalition/Stein

Race 9) Run Julie Run/Amazing Grace/Fastnfuriouslinks

Race 10) Burlap/The Good Witch/Milos