AFTER a somewhat disappointing third-place finish in the Eileen Cliggott Memorial Trophy, the two-time former Horse of the Year Atomica is poised to reaffirm her position as one of Jamaica’s top thoroughbreds.

This afternoon she is to face a formidable challenge in the $2-million Chairman’s Trophy feature at Caymanas Park, where she’ll go head-to-head with rivals Barnaby and Pack Plays. The Graded Stakes/Open Allowance contest will run over seven and a half furlongs (1,500m).

This highly anticipated showdown presents Atomica with an opportunity to prove her mettle, silence her critics, and demonstrate why she’s considered one of the island’s premier racing talents. With her impressive record and exceptional talent, Atomica is determined to make a statement and reclaim her spot at the top of the racing hierarchy.

The Gary Subratie-conditioned mare Atomica was heavily backed as one of the major contenders for the Eileen Cliggott Memorial Trophy on January 25 over six and a half furlongs (1,300m), but instead she finished third behind Pack Plays and Wall Street Trader.

However, the additional furlong (200m) for this race could work in her favour, allowing her to turn the tables and win. Atomica is a proven champion with a strong record, and she should not be underestimated. Dane Dawkins is set to ride Atomica.

Pack Plays, a four-year-old American-bred dark bay/brown colt trained by Ricardo Mathie, easily won the Eileen Cliggott Memorial Trophy on January 25. He defeated Wall Street Trader by 3½ lengths with Atomica another three lengths in third place. Although travelling further, the distance shouldn’t trouble Pack Plays, making him a strong contender. He’s shown impressive speed and endurance in his previous starts and he’ll likely be a major factor in the outcome. Shane Ellis has been called upon to do riding honours.

Barnaby, trained by Anthony Nunes, finished 4¾ lengths second to Run Julie Run over seven furlongs (1,400m) on January 1. With the extra half-furlong, Barnaby could spring a surprise. He’s been working well for this race and has the potential to upset the favourites. He worked six furlongs (1,200m) on Saturday, February 15 in a very fast 1:12.4. Tevin Foster has the leg up.

The contest is positioned as the eighth event on the 10-race card with a post time of 4:40 pm. First race is at 12:00 pm.

The field for the Chairman’s Trophy is rounded out by Power from Above, California Crown, and Mamma Mia, but these three runners are not expected to pose a significant threat to the top contenders. While they will undoubtedly give it their all and contribute to an exciting race, it’s unlikely that any of them will break into the top three.

Power From Above, realistically, has little chance of winning against this strong field. While she has shown glimpses of talent in the past, her recent form has been inconsistent and she faces a significant step up in class here.

Although California Crown enters this race on a two-race winning streak, it’s unlikely to continue here. His previous victories came against weaker opposition, and he’ll need to improve significantly to challenge the top contenders.

Mamma Mia will likely make her presence felt early in the race but her chances of winning are uncertain. She’s shown flashes of brilliance but inconsistency has been an issue in her career. Still, she could play a role in shaping the pace and outcome of the race.

Ones to watch:

Race 1)
The General/Kellan/Himaya

Race 2)
Big Pop/Lucky Papa/Undeclared War

Race 3)
Life is Life/Provocativa/Rani Bangala

Race 4)
Final Load/Uncaptured Empress/MPRS Links

Race 5)
Nina Dorada/Storm valley/ZD Eye

Race 6)
Starraura/Hansa/Linguist

Race 7)
Mack and Rome/Main Mistress/Allegiance

Race 8)
Atomica/Barnaby/Pack Plays

Race 9)
Electrode/Joblane/Money Box

Race 10)
Rusty/Magical Mood/Basilicus