THREE-YEAR-OLD American-bred dark bay/brown colt American Aviator, trained by Jason DaCosta, gets a chance to redeem himself when he takes on seven rivals in this afternoon’s $1.19-million RonRon Trophy feature at Caymanas Park.

Following a winning debut on February 8, American Aviator’s subsequent three outings were underwhelming. However, his recent fifth-place finish on September 13, behind Mighty Gully and Miss MoneyPenny, showcased promise, especially considering the four-month break.

This performance may have laid the groundwork for a strong run, and with solid training — 1:08.1 for five and a half furlongs (1,100m) and 1:02.0 for five furlongs (1,000m) on Monday, September 22 — American Aviator could be poised to challenge for top honours with Robert Halledeen in the saddle.

The RonRon Trophy, a Restricted Stakes contest for imported three-year-olds and upward (non-winners of three) and native-bred three-year-olds and four-year-olds (non-winners of four) will run over six furlongs (1,200m). The race is positioned as the eighth event on the 10-race card with a post time of 4:10 pm. First race is at 11:40 am.

Mighty Gully and American Aviator’s stablemate Miss MoneyPenny, who recently outpaced American Aviator, are also strong contenders to win the RonRon Trophy.

Mighty Gully’s latest victory was impressive, with a half-length win over Miss MoneyPenny in a tight finish over five and a half furlongs. The extra distance in this race might suit Mighty Gully, potentially setting her up for a repeat win. With Dick Cardenas aboard, who is on the cusp of 800 career wins at Caymanas Park, Mighty Gully’s chances look promising. Cardenas’s experience and focus could prove decisive.

Miss MoneyPenny has been in excellent form, with two consecutive second-place finishes, showcasing her consistency and grit. With Dane Dawkins aboard she’s likely to be a strong contender and will be pushing the pace for a significant portion of the race. Her recent performances suggest she’s well equipped to challenge for the win.

Lockdown, Bowmore, Riley J, Strong Mind, and Dutchess compete the field.

Ones to watch

Race 1:
Casual Peach/Last dance/Amad Ali

Race 2:
Alchemy of Souls/Star Quest/Mr Lee

Race 3:
Brenda Boy/Train of Thought/King Piye

Race 4:
Sir Don/Midnight Traveller/Tia Maria

Race 5:
Enthusiastic/Humility/Joyful’s Surprise

Race 6:
Justin Biden/Sir John/She’s Myhedgefund

Race 7:
Sweet Bern/Shine For Me/Girlythebutcher

Race 8:
American Aviator/Mighty Gully/Miss MoneyPenny

Race 9:
Press Conference/Flybluejet/Midnight Flight

Race 10:
Playfair/Abreathoffreshair/Adira