ON a card of nine races with only 71 declarations it was inevitable that the two top trainers this season — four-time champion and leading stakes earners Jason DaCosta ($35,415,514), and former three-time titlist Anthony Nunes ($30,292,850) — with 12 starters between them, would be well represented.

The opening event, run on the five-furlong straight course for claimers valued at $1 million or $800,000, went to US-bred Uncaptured Empress (7-5), saddled by Nunes, with apprentice Tajay Suckoo guiding the six-year-old mare to a near-three-length margin of victory.

Thirty-seven minutes later, following race two, another US importee, Prosangue (2-5), ridden by Tevin Foster and from the high-powered outfit of DaCosta, was in the winners’ enclosure with a romp of just over eight lengths ahead of the nearest of five rivals.

Prosangue (USA), a three-year-old chestnut colt and progeny of multiple Graded Stakes winner, Kentucky-bred stallion Madefromlucky, did not respond immediately when the gates opened but strode into the lead over six furlongs out and posted a time of 1:38.4. This, for the trip of a mile, to send a message that this form could be progressive.

To confirm the second for Nunes’ stable, Brompton Boy (4-5), with two-time and 2026 leading reinsman Raddesh Roman aboard, won the one-mile gallop of race three by 18 lengths. Brompton Boy, who had done all his racing over distances below that of today’s trip, gave the distinct impression that he will prove effective over the longer trips from here on.

DaCosta claimed his second of four on the day with Himaya (9-2), owned by his mom, Elizabeth, arriving in the final stride of the seven-furlong race four to score by a head. Back from injury received over two months ago, Shaheem Gordon, a promising graduate of the 2024 class of the Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC) Riding School, brought the five-year-old Casual Trick roan mare from well off the pace to touch off 3-5 favourite and long-time leader Sir Wong Don (Raddesh Roman).

Inevitably and predictably, the third success for DaCosta came in the form of front-runner FredThe Master (USA), partnered by Robert Halledeen, who dominated the early fractions of the six-furlong race to coast home five and a half lengths clear of nearest rival Mulligan Man (USA) — bet at odds of 2-1 — who never looked likely to get on terms with the consistent Fred The Master(USA).

With DaCosta and Nunes having no declarations in race six, the lopsided distribution of the day’s available prize money was paused, and race six went to Cryptogirl (8-5), prepared by conditioner Byron Davis and ridden to an advantage of just over two lengths when the gallop of five furlongs straight was exhausted.

However it was resumed in race seven, run at five furlongs round, with apprentice Abigail Abel — on her 18th mount and first winner of the season — aboard the DaCosta-schooled maiden colt Eye Of The Tiger (3-5). Racing for the second time, the three-year-old bay colt, a progeny of Aveenu Malcainu, won by just shy of nine lengths.

There was an incident at the end of the first furlong, with the winner getting into the path of runner-up
Dark Authority (8-5) and Roman having to take evasive action by yielding ground to avoid a broadside. Running from post position six, Miss Able deliberately charted a 45-degree diagonal course towards the inner rails with her mount. This approach met the criteria for careless riding comfortably in all respects, with the rider ignoring the responsibility of keeping a straight course.

The inevitable Stewards’ Inquiry by the three-member panel — of some length — possibly determined that in the absence of an objection, Roman, or the owner of Dark Authority, or both, thought nothing of the incident in terms of a persuasive argument, and the officials allowed the result to remain.

Other considerations by the race day panel would be how early in the gallop the infraction occurred and whether the offender would cost the runner-up its best-possible placing. However, it would be surprising if
Miss Able gets away without a fine or a caution, at the very least, having not met the standard of exercising due care for the safety of her colleagues.

Back now to the aforementioned “unintended”, lopsided distribution of the day’s purse money, which resumed in race eight and concluded in the ninth. This, with trainer Patrick Lynch sixth and Peter-John Parsard third on the top 10 list of trainers, respectively, saddling the winners.

Dane Dawkins, for the opener of a riding double, was at his best in guiding Lynch’s Classic aspirant Strong Aveenu (4-1) to a one-length victory margin in the seven-furlong race eight. Whilst in the nightcap the 2022 champion reinsman, to confirm double success, earned his 10 per cent of purse commission with far less effort. The Parsard entry Newland Links (4-5) got home by nearly six lengths running over the five-furlong round course.

To underscore the fact that the fortunes of the top performers increased, in addition to the four top 10 trainers earning a disproportionate share of the distributable cash, the top 10 riders also held their own. Following today’s results Roman, the leader, has now tallied 41 wins, followed by Foster 36, Dawkins 32, and Halledeen 26. Noteworthy as well is the fact that Suckoo 18, Anderson 14, and Gordon 12 are in the top 10 with 301 races accounted for in 2026.

The Training Feat Award is presented to Jason DaCosta for the return to winning form of Himaya. Her victory on August 23 last year was followed by seven unplaced runs of significant margins of defeat. However, she delivered the Best Winning Gallop with the assistance of Shaheem Gordon whose skill set is recognised with the Jockeyship Award.

Brompton Boy with Raddesh Roman aboard. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)