THE curtain came down on the 2026 Futurity campaign excitingly and historically as the 105th renewal of the 12-furlong Jamaica Derby delivered one of the closest finishes ever. The event, staged as race nine of 10, was decided in the final stride, with both being conditioned by the same trainer for the same deserving owner, Carlton Watson, unusual in the extreme and unlikely to recur any time soon, if ever.

Last but two seven furlongs out, 82-1 bet Maverick (Calvin Bailey) made steady headway to lead a furlong and a half out but failed by a nose to deny the finishing speed of London Spirit (9-2), piloted by title-chasing reinsman Tevin Foster. I Love Birdie (Phillip Parchment), conditioned by Fitzroy Glispie, was only 1½ lengths away in third at 50-1 whilst 4-5 favourite We Jammin (Reyan Lewis), trained by Peter-John Parsard, was fourth, outstayed by nine lengths.

Four-time and reigning champion Jason Dacosta saddled five of the 16 starters, including sprinter
Eye Of The Tiger (Abigail Able) who executed an admirable effort of effective pace-making to ensure that only the genuine stayers would figure in the finish of the stamina contest. This success by DaCosta was special as well, having saddled I Dream Again to win, and Alchemy Of Souls to be fourth in the 2025 Blue Riband event.

For the first of a double success Dane Dawkins, the 2022 champion, rode US-bred Da Queen’s Bee (9-2), saddled by Byron Davis, to a 7¼-length runaway in the six-furlong opening event for five-year-olds and upwards with less than three wins. Another runaway was served up in race two, with 1-5 favourite Unbelievable Power (USA) nearly 13 lengths the best over the 6½-furlong event for three-year-olds with less than two wins. Tajay Suckoo was aboard for trainer Adrian Prince.

Dawkins’ second came aboard He’s Sensational (8-5), declared by owner-trainer Oral Hayden for the 7½-furlong gallop of race three for four-year-olds and upwards with one career win. In this event Tajay Sukoo fell from his mount, Badbadtanesha, was injured, and deemed by the assigned medical doctor unavailable for the remainder of the card.

Eric Haughton winning aboard Code Red. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)

Consequently, to break a lean spell Demar Williams benefited from the absence of Sukoo as he was the replacement aboard 3-5 favourite Goodbye Firefly (USA), saddled by veteran Spencer Chung, for the five-furlong straight sprint of race eight assigned to claimers valued at $1.5 million.

For race four, former three-time champion Anthony Nunes posted the first of three on the day. Partnered by apprentice Eric Haughton, Code Red (2-1) won the three-year-old maiden, six-furlong event by just under five lengths. Nunes’ second was in race seven, a four-furlong straight dash for three-year-old maidens, with Shane Richardson driving Dillsbury (4-1) to a near two-length success.

Nunes’ third was served up in game front-running style by Supremasi (14-1), with apprentice Jahiem Anderson at his best to ensure victory by half a length in the 7½-furlong Overnight Allowance contest. This event is staged annually to honour the exploits of all-time great reinsman Emelio Roddriquez, who was champion in 1982, 84, 85 and 87.

Aboard for trainer Peter-John Parsard in race five, Reyan Lewis, champion in 2023, guided the third of four wide-margin winners on the day as Confidence Is High (USA) beat his nearest rival by seven lengths in the race restricted to four-year-olds and upwards and run at six and a half furlongs. The fourth runaway came in race six, run at 5½ furlongs and restricted to $350k claimers, with Princess Akilah (2-1) 12¼ lengths clear and Youville Pinnock in the irons for conditioner Ricardo Brown.

Naturally, the Training Feat Award goes to Jason DaCosta for saddling the first two to finish in the Premier Classic, with winner London Spirit executing the Best Winning Gallop in a demonstration of finishing speed, stamina and courage, ably assisted by Tevin Foster for yet another of his numerous Jockeyship Awards.