Champion and leading trainer Jason DaCosta holds all the aces in today’s split division of the $1.25-million Hubert “Chinna” Bartley Memorial Trophy at Caymanas Park.

DaCosta saddles foreigner American Aviator in Division 1 and Derby/St Leger winner I Dream Again in Division 2. Both are Overnight Allowance contests over seven furlongs (1,400m). Division 1 goes as the eighth race at 4:25 pm, while Division 2 is the 10th and final event with the post time at 5:40 pm.

American Aviator has won two of seven starts this season and looks primed to strike here. He finished a strong three-length second to Nautical Star over this distance on May 25. Before that, he was just beaten a head by
Sensational Soul at nine furlongs (1,800m) on May 10.

His works say he’s ready. He galloped six furlongs (1,200m) in 1:12.0 on Saturday, June 13, strode seven furlongs in 1:39.0 on Wednesday, June 17, and galloped five furlongs (1,000m) in 1:02.1 on Saturday, June 20. Based on that preparation, American Aviator should win, and win comfortably.

Mark My Identity, six lengths third behind Nautical Star and American Aviator last time, should pick up second here. He’s worked well too, galloping six furlongs in 1:16.1 on Saturday, June 20. Wicked Cassie and Miss Grove should also run well for a share of the purse.

I Dream Again, last year’s Jamaica Derby and St Leger winner, should have things his own way in Division 2. The four-year-old bay colt has two runs at this level this season, finishing second and fifth, respectively. Both were over five furlongs straight — not his best trip.

He’s far better suited over this distance. His last win at seven furlongs was by two and a half lengths in 1:26.4, and that form should be good enough to beat this lot.

Boss Man looks the main danger for I Dream Again. The Peter-John Parsard trainee has been flying in the mornings. He worked four furlongs in 49.2 on Sunday, June 14, then blasted the same distance in 46.4 a week later. He’s a real threat.

Expect good runs too from Allegiance, Shooting Star, and Fortuna Belle.

Ones to watch:

Race 1)
Delta Gamma/Imaginearium/Pow Wow

Race 2)
KP Choice/I Am Fred/Cryptogirl

Race 3)
Amazing Force/Princess Fiannie/Design Diva

Race 4)
Native Alliance/Never/Lil’ Maggie

Race 5)
Linstead Market/Blood Moon/Jack Daniel

Race 6)
Civic Illusion/Gulfstream Cat/For My Love

Race 7)
Big Guy In The Sky/Stein/Time Bomb

Race 8)
American Aviator/Mark My Identity/Miss Grove

Race 9)
Dutchess/Summer Palace/Margarita

Race 10)
I Dream Again/Boss Man/Shooting Star