FOUR-TIME champion trainer Jason DaCosta kicked off the 2026 racing season with a bang, saddling three winners on the nine-race New Year’s Day programme at Caymanas Park on Thursday, January 1.

His winning trio included RicoRicoRico in the fourth race, Girvano in the $2-million Miracle Man Cup, and Provident in the $1.25-million Supreme Ventures Fan Appreciation Day Trophy.

This impressive start comes after daCosta’s fourth-consecutive trainers’ championship win last year, with stakes earnings of $83,980,350.

With Anthony Allen in the saddle, four-year-old American-bred bay colt RicoRicoRico was an 8-length winner in the $780,000 Restricted Allowance IV contest for native-bred four-year-olds and upward (non-winners of three) and imported four-year-olds and upward (non-winners of two) over 5 furlongs (1,000m) straight.

RicoRicoRico was prominent from the start of the race and chased stablemate Global Pursuit (Robert Halledeen) crossing the dummy rails and unto the main track. With a quick shift in gears,
RicoRicoRico, who is owned by Solomon Sharpe, sprinted clear for an easy win ahead of Miss Grove (Raddesh Roman) and Global Pursuit in a time of 59.1 (24.0 x 46.4).

Girvano, ridden by Robert Halledeen, pulled off a stunning upset Open Allowance contest for three-year-olds and upward over 7 furlongs (1,400m), holding off favourite Of a Revolution.

Halledeen positioned Girvano in third place behind stablemate Mamma Mia (Jerome Innis) and
Atlantic Convoy (Tajay Suckoo) down the backstretch, with Of A Revolution settling for sixth position. Girvano maintained his steady well until navigating the half-mile (800m) when Halledeen sent him in chase of Mamma Mia. At that point Of a Revolution continued to bide his time in sixth place.

As they entered the lane Girvano surged to the front, with Of a Revolution charging on the outside, but Halledeen’s well-balanced ride secured the win by a length and three quarters in a time of 1:26.20 minutes. Is That A Fact finished third under Tevin Foster.

Provident, with Tevin Foster doing the riding honours, outstayed rivals by a length and a half in the Overnight Allowance event for three-year-olds and upward over 9 furlongs and 25 yards (1,820m).

Provident broke off well at the start of the race and was up with the pacesetters. He took over at the 6-furlong (1,200m) point and then had to battle with Oil Machine (Tajay Suckoo) coming into the lane, but the five-year-old chestnut horse proved too strong in the end. Stablemate Brenda Boy (Robert Halldeen) ran on to get second place. The winning time was 1:57.2.

DaCosta’s success is notable, especially considering he is expecting to face stiff competition from rival Anthony “Baba” Nunes, who’s determined to reclaim the top spot. Nunes had won the championship on three occasions — 2019, 2020, and 2021 — before DaCosta took over in 2022.

DaCosta’s leads the standing with three wins, two seconds, and two thirds from 11 starts with Stakes earnings $3,023,800. Nunes is second with one win, three seconds, and five thirds from 19 starts with Stakes earnings $2,044,750.

Anthony Allen aboard RicoRicoRico after winning the fourth race on Thursday, January 1, 2026.(Photo: Karl Mclarty)

Tevin Foster guides Provident to victory in the $1.25-million SVREL Fan Appreciation Day Trophy on Thursday, January 1, 2026. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)