Get A Pepsi springs stunning upset in Allan E ‘Billy’ Williams Memorial Trophy
In a shocking turn of events, Get A Pepsi, a 17-1 longshot, pulled off a major upset victory in Division One of the Allan E “Billy” Williams Memorial Trophy on Saturday, February 8, 2025.
Trainer Fitzroy Glispie, however, remained unfazed by the surprise win, revealing that he had every confidence in his charge’s ability.
“I wasn’t surprised by the win,” Glispie said in a post-race interview with the Jamaica Observer’s
The Supreme Racing Guide.
“Actually, I had a lot of confidence in Get A Pepsi, especially since he had previously run 1:26 and change over this distance. He ran three dismal races after and that was expected, but today was his day. Everything came together — the horse was right, the training was right, and the plan was executed perfectly.” Glipsie added.
Get A Pepsi, competing in the Non-Restricted Overnight Allowance contest for three-year-olds and upward over 7 furlongs (1,400m), led from the start and held off a late challenge from Supremasi (Tevin Foster) to win by a neck. The winning time was 1:26.4 (24.1 x 48.0 x 1:13.4).
Glispie attributed the victory to a well-executed plan, which involved taking the lead and making every post a winning one. With Get A Pepsi’s upset win, Glispie will now reassess his strategy, taking into account the horse’s recovery from the race.
“We’ll go home, sit back, and see how he comes out of the race,” Glispie said.
With Richard Henry expertly guiding him, Get A Pepsi burst out of the gates, immediately engaging in a spirited battle with Banadura (Robert Halldeen) for dominance down the backstretch. As the field approached the five-furlong (1,000m) marker, Get A Pepsi asserted his authority, dictating the pace ahead of rivals.
Banadura, Madelyn’s Sunshine (Abigail Able), and Supremasi trailed in his hoofsteps. As the field entered the half-mile (800m) turn, Get A Pepsi shifted gear, increasing his lead and looking to steal the march on rivals.
Although he began to tire in the final stages of the race, Get A Pepsi dug deep, summoning every last ounce of energy to hold off a late challenge and secure the win. Supremasi finished second, with Further and Beyond (Aaron Chatrie) taking third place.
