FOLLOWING the Independence Day excitement generated by the 106th edition of the 12-furlong Jamaica Derby, with the extraordinary result of four-time and reigning champion Jason DaCosta saddling the first two finishers — both in the colours of leading owner Carlton Watson and with London Spirit (9-2) defeating Maverick (82-1) by a nose — it was back to the routine of just another race day.

Silent Cat (7-1), saddled by Davidan Robinson for an unforgettable lifelong memory of his first career success, was guided to a two-length victory margin by apprentice Eric Haughton over the seven furlongs of the opening event, restricted to $350k claimers. Nine-year-old gelding Silent Cat, a progeny of Silent Valor, now has six wins, nine seconds and 12 thirds from 80 career starts, and therefore finishes in the money nearly 33 per cent of the time.

Saddled by owner-trainer Carl Anderson, favourite at odds of 3-5, Modern Monarch — ridden by Tevin Foster for the first of five successes on the 10-race programme — won the Restricted Allowance V for horses four years and older by two lengths over the six furlongs of race two.

The annual traditional three-furlong Cradle Stakes, the first for the season’s juvenile campaign and staged as the third, was won by the DaCosta-schooled Bern Identity chestnut colt Boss Over Boss (6-1) ridden by Robert Halledeen in a near three-length victory for leading owner Carlton Watson. There was speculation about an error in the placement of the exercise reports in the official form book. This underinformed bettors about the ability of the winner.

To claim his second, the Foster assault on the pursuit of the 2026 riding title resumed in the non-winners four races, run as the fourth. Money Box (2-1), declared by Joseph Thomas, was nearly four lengths ahead of 43-1 shot Gelroy in the 5½-furlong event for $750k claimers. In the fifth, for five-year-olds and upwards with fewer than four wins, a runaway of 12¼ lengths by 4-5 bet Princess Fianie was Foster’s third. This also ended a sequence of five consecutive second-place finishes for the Omar Williams-conditioned mare.

Ian Spence enters the winners’ enclosure aboard Commander Z. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)

Saddled by former three-time champion Anthony Nunes, three-year-old maiden filly
For Your Love (9-5), with apprentice Eric Haughton, finished just over two lengths ahead of her nearest peer in winning the 5½-furlong race six. Foster, for his fourth on the day, enjoyed another runaway as Lawrence Freemantle’s Victorious Links (4-5) was 13¼ lengths the best in a field of half a dozen fillies, with only one career win each in the gender-Restricted Allowance seventh event.

The result of race eight, for $500k claimers over the five-furlong straight gallop, confirmed Foster’s five-timer with Skyrizi (9-2), declared by owner Rohan Mathie to win by 3¼ lengths. Additionally, the in form rider was second in race one aboard Diamond Rock (8-5), fourth with Wrapper Girl at (9-1) in race six, and third astride Starraura (5-2) in race 10. All told, with 60 winners for the season Foster has emerged one ahead of ailing champion Raddesh Roman, whose return is imminent.

Third-generation trainer Peter-John Parsard, in his fourth season, reached the milestone of saddling 100 winners in record time with the victory of US-bred Mcmullen (9-5) over the 5½-furlong trip of the Restricted Allowance IV for winners of less than three races. The four-year-old chestnut colt, trained by former jockey Collin Maragh, won one race from 13 starts at Gulfstream Park. Ridden by Shane Richardson, Mcmullen (USA) scored by 10 lengths in a time of 1:06.1 and looks capable of significant improvement going forward.

It was 12-1 against Commander Z (USA) in the Restricted Overnight Allowance tenth event run over 5½ furlongs. The huge five-year-old horse, a progeny of Khozan (USA), under the guidance of Ian Spence — the elder statesman of the local jockeys’ colony — won the sprint by 11 lengths for veteran trainer Spencer Chung’s sixth success from 18 starts this season.

Spencer Chung takes the Training Feat Award for the return to form of Commander Z (USA), who had accumulated combined arrears of 67 lengths in his last four races and had seemingly lost his zest for racing. However, this run takes the Best Winning Gallop accolade for the perfect performance on this card. With a five-timer, although it included three wide-margin winners, Tevin Foster is given the Jockeyship Award.