With the first quarter of the 2026 Racing Year in Jamaica behind us, it is time to look to what the next five months will or are likely to deliver. The second season Futurities beckon, and in terms of the quality of the Classic aspirations of the competitors of either sex, the actual or promising potential superiority by colts We Jammin and Salute The Don has been firmly established.

Champion juvenile We Jammin, who scored convincingly in the Jamaica eight-furlong Two-Year-Old Stakes, was, by the reckoning of many pundits, good enough to match strides with four-year-old US-bred colt American Aviator on his March 1 seasonal debut. However, the handicap rating published here in the predictions/odds indicated that a win for We Jammin was unlikely.

Still, the Peter-John Parsard-conditioned colt was not disgraced, and although beaten by seven lengths by the importee, We Jammin has definitely trained on from last year. Former six-time champion and Jamaica’s most prolific rider of Caymanas Classic winners Winston Griffiths has every reason to be confident in the ability of the well-conformed chestnut progeny of Bern Identity to impress when it matters most.

Gary Subratie’s Two-Year-Old Stakes runner-up Salute The Don could hardly have been more convincing in a romp of nine and a half lengths in the six-furlong Sir Howard Stakes. The clocking of 1:13.4 would have been significantly better if a challenger had emerged. In terms of improvement from two to three years, according to the discerning pundits, including this writer, Salute The Don may have the edge.

One should not forget that in that last Boxing Day feature, champion We Jammin almost got into the path of Salute The Don, and this required evasive action at the distance by rider Dane Dawkins. This resulted in a defeat of five lengths, without which there certainly would have been a significantly lesser margin of victory. Incidentally, nothing resulted from an inquiry, as the race-day Stewards overruled the consequent objection lodged by Dawkins.

As far as the opposite sex is concerned, speedy Taylor Made, schooled by four-time champion Jason DaCosta, was always clear on her December 21 debut and demonstrated a preference for front-running tactics in the six-furlong Hotline Stakes of March 21. Trained by former 14-time titlist Philip Feanny, Giving Thanks, a winner by 10 lengths in her previous race, could not cope with the pace of Taylor Made and only managed to be over nine lengths adrift in third, but may be back.

DaCosta has seemingly established a two-pronged possibility with the fairly impressive debut of Social Storm on March 29, reputedly bred with United States Classic success in her bloodlines. This rangy filly has eye-catching conformation. However, more importantly, she demonstrated excellent temperament in the post-parade, looking extremely well schooled. Doing everything right against 12 rivals, including several promising colts, it was an all-the-way sprint of the five furlongs round course to score by over three lengths.

In terms of financial rewards, these are the Futurities dates that will matter. The fillies Thornbird Stakes over seven furlongs, as well as the colts and geldings Prince Consort Stakes over the same distance, will have their 32nd stagings on the April 11. On May 2, the fillies will run the seven-and-a-half-furlongs Portmore, and on May 9, the colts and geldings will compete over a similar distance for the Kingston.

Opening Classics, the Fillies 1000 Guineas and the colts and geldings 2000 Guineas will be staged on June 6 and 7, respectively. The St Leger for both sexes takes centre stage on July 4.

August 4 has been reserved for the Jamaica Oaks, for the fillies, and will be the sole centre of attraction, whilst the premier Classic, the Jamaica Derby for both sexes, will be the feature on August 6, Independence Day. The early favourites may have been identified here, but it is 100 per cent certain that between now and then several even more worthy contestants for these major prizes will emerge from both sexes.

Jockey Dane Dawkins guides Salute The Don to victory in the $1.2-million Sir Howard Stakes at Caymanas Park on Saturday, March 21, 2026. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)