In the past, Easter Monday was an important race day, but in the current evolution of the racing product, this is no longer the case with only 80 runners declared and inevitably, the absence of a holiday atmosphere.

To compound matters, only one of the two well-advertised US-based jockeys, Reyluis Gutierrez, arrived; however, outstanding Gulfstream race caller Pete Aiello’s colourful commentary helped raise the ambiance to a more accepted level.

Bet at odds of 12-1, Bin Laden, ridden by champion Reyan Lewis in triple riding form, who replaced the ailing Phillip Parchment, dominated the gallop down the backstretch and was almost four lengths clear at the end of the 1,500-metre gallop of the opening event.

The stable of winning trainer Steven Todd also enjoyed success in race two with
O So Smart (Paul Francis) scoring in the 1,100-metre sprint at odds of 11-1.

Race three was another one of the frequent farcical events with Cold Pursuit (3-5), from the camp of Oral Hayden, partnered by Youville Pinnock, also replacing the ailing Phillip Parchment, beat the nearest of four rivals by 18 ½ lengths over the 1,000 metres straight course.

For the first of his two wins on the day, leading reinsman Tevin Foster induced a perfectly timed successful late rush from Colorado Ranger (7-2) to score by a neck.

Saddled by Gregg Fennell, the winner showed by an advantage of a neck over 5-2 bet
Dodge This Link with 4-5 favourite Crimson a head further back at the end of race four run at 1,400 metres.

Foster only had to wait half an hour to confirm his second with 4-1 bet Salud’s strong run over the last 150 metres giving her victory by a length in the race five run over 1,100 metres. The five -year-old mare was saddled by Ryan Darby and was winning her third race from 39 racecourse appearances.

Turned out in unbeatable condition by trainer Marlon Brown for the gallop over 1,000 metres straight, Special Gift 6-5 sprinted well enough to overcome interference inside the last 200 metres to win race six by just over five lengths.

Ridden by Matthew Bennett, the five-year-old bay horse was always travelling well with the only concerning moment was when the wayward rival got into his path.

Race seven of 10, another renewal of The Viceroy Trophy over 1,600 metres had four declarations headed by 2023 Mouttet Mile winner Rough Entry (USA), including two-time 2022-23 Horse-of-the-Year Atomica and Is That A Fact (USA), who beat both in the 1,500-metre Chairman’s Trophy last February.
Green Gold Rush (utero) completed the entries in the $2.50-million event.

Atomica was checked and lost her action when racing between Rough Entry (USA) and
Is That A Fact (USA) 500 metres out in the Chairman’s but stayed on well to be just over two lengths second.
Rough Entry (USA) returned with 57.0 kilogrammes, Atomica with 52.0 kgs, Is That A Fact (USA) at 50 kilos up from 46. This time Atomica led from 500 metres from the finish and increased her advantage to 15 ½ lengths at the line to add this edition of the The Viceroy Trophy to her victory in the Jamaica Cup on New Year’s Day.

Saddled by Gary Subratie for the first of three for his stable, champion Atomica (6-5) was ridden by former six-time champion Omar Walker.

This was the first winner of a rare double these days for the multiple-titled reinsman, who was back in the winners’ enclosure aboard even money favourite Paper Work to confirm the Subratie stable’s second in race eight run over the 1,000 metres straight course.

Subratie’s third winner came in the 1,200-metre nightcap, which closed champion Lewis’ final of his three winning mounts aboard US-bred maiden Noble Attitude. Race seven, the 1,100-metre sprint for the Easter Sprint Cup was a near 10-length romp for versatile Ability (1-5) who won 2023 Jamaica Derby over 2,400 metres.

Unusually, Lewis, who rode Ability for trainer Patrick Lynch, three-timer included two chance rides as he replaced Phillip Parchment in the first and the invited Pablo Morales, who did not make the trip to ride Noble Attitude (USA) in the 10th.

The Training Feat Award is presented to Gregg Fennell for the performance of Colorado Ranger in a return to form demonstrating the Best Winning Gallop with Foster deservedly recognised with another Jockeyship Award for the deployment of the full range of his skill set.