The 34th and 32nd renewals of the traditional fillies Hotline Stakes and colts and geldings Sir Howard Stakes, respectively, for local thoroughbreds in their second season, were the featured events on a programme of 10 races, with both events contested over the six-furlong course.

The results of these two second-season Futurities usually pose more questions than provide genuine and trusted pointers to what lies ahead in the Classics. However, today’s outcomes may not necessarily align with what generally materialised in the past, and at this stage has seemingly identified aspirants who will at least be in the conversation.

Staged as race four, the Hotline went to Taylor Made (3-2), saddled by four-time champion Jason DaCosta for the opener of a double for his high-powered outfit. The rangy grey progeny of Aveenue Malcainu shared the early pace with one of her less distinguished rivals before going onto score by just over four lengths with Robert Halledeen applying only the basic minimum riding skills as needed.

The Dacosta double was confirmed in race nine with Tevin Foster driving Teflon Don (8-1) to beat 1-5 favourite Sir Don (USA), running “greenly”, by one length over the five-furlong straight gallop of race nine. For race two, the Anthony Nunes entry Smart Trick (1-1) led and won the gallop of five and a half furlongs by five lengths with Raddesh Roman at the reins. Whilst in race six, claimer Shaheen Gordon was just under eight lengths clear aboard owner/trainer David Powell’s Princess Tiffany (8-1) when the winning post ended the gallop of five and a half furlongs.

Programmed as race seven, the Sir Howard attracted 10 declarations, with the only notable absentee being 2026 Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes champion We Jammin, whose seasonal appearance on March 1 ended in an eight-and-a-half-length defeat by US-bred American Aviator over seven furlongs.

Today’s Sir Howard renewal winner, Salute The Don (1-1), was declared by Gary Subratie and ridden by 2022 champion Dane Dawkins to a victory margin of over nine lengths. Five lengths second to We Jammin in the Two-Year-Old Stakes, it was clear that Salute The Don would have been closer if We Jammin had not gotten in his path 300 yards out. The March 1 raceday stewards did investigate the objection but correctly took no action. Time will tell which of these two progressive colts has made more progress and therefore likely to be more successful.

Owner/trainer Junior Panton, from six starts, had his first success of the season with Roger Hewitt guiding the 2-1 favourite Givemethelight to a three-and-a-half length advantage in the day’s opener over the five-and-a-half furlongstrip of race two. Veteran reinsman, the popular Paul “Country” Francis, picked up his third success of the season by persuading conditioner Edward Stanberry’s front-runner, My Sunshine, to a near four-length lead at the finish of the six-furlong third event.

Speaking of front-running tactics, in race five, for the first of two such performances on the in-form apprentice Tajay Suckoo, rated Anthony Dixon’s Last Possession (5-1) to score by a neck over the sevenfurlongs of race five.To close a riding double, Suckoo’s follow-up success came in race eight over the straight course with Spencer Chung’s US-bred GoodbyeFirefly (2-1).The strapping five-year-old imported horse established an early advantageand sprinted gamely inside the last furlong for victory by a length.

The Training Feat Award is presented to David Powell, who claimed Princess Tiffany, a seven-year-old mare, for himself on February 18. The Silent Valor bay progeny’s last 11 races, dating back to July 2025, had accumulated arrears of 140 lengths, but was good enough to score by a wide margin today.The Best Winning Gallop was achieved bylightly raced
Last Possession, who had in her seven previous career starts raced over distances below seven furlongs. However, she led and demonstrated speed, courage, and stamina to last the trip gamely, for which her rider Tajay Suckoo, takes the accolade of the Jockeyship Award.

My Sunshine wins with Paul Francis aboard. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)