ALLEGIANCE, a three-year-old chestnut colt, began his ‘Road to the Triple Crown’ with an upset win in the $1.2-million Sir Howard Stakes feature event at Caymanas Park on Sunday.

The Anthony Nunes-trained Allegiance, who was sent off at odds of 9-1 in the small field of six runners, came from behind competitors to earn a half-length win in the native-bred three-year-old Restricted Allowance II (non-winners of two) contest over six furlongs (1,200m).

A designated prep for colts and geldings for the upcoming, native-bred, three-year-old Classic series of races, the event is run in honour of outstanding racehorse Sir Howard, a multiple stakes winner who retired in 1984 as the leading all-time stakes winner with 10 wins from 28 starts.

Ridden by champion Reyan Lewis, Allegiance settled behind the pace in fourth place and watched as Teflon Don (Robert Halledeen) led the field ahead of J. Spieth (Tevin Foster) and
World Surprise (Oshane Nugent). Going into the half-mile (800-metre) turn, Allegiance had no racing room on the inside rails and was tailed off in the last position going into the bend.

But Allegiance regained his groove and then began to round horses approaching the distance. With a clear run in a deep stretch on the inside rails Allegiance proved too strong for rivals in the end, winning ahead of J. Spieth and World Surprise, in that order. The winning time was 1:16.1 (23.3 x 48.4).

Allegiance was one of three winners on the nine-race card for Nunes. The former three-time champion conditioner saddled Power From Above (Matthew Bennett) in the day’s fifth race and Volatility (Paul Francis) in the night pan.

Meanwhile, jockeys Raddesh Roman and Samantha Fletcher both fell from their mounts, S
tein and Maya, respectively, in the second race and were stood down from racing the rest of the day.

Racing continues on Saturday.