THE opening event of nine was staged on an eerily quiet early Sunday afternoon. The Maiden Condition event was restricted to horses four years old and upwards, with 11 declared to face the starter for the gallop of five furlongs round.

It was 15-1 against Moonlight Song, saddled by Fitznahum Williams and guided by claimer Evertte Clunis. The medium-sized grey filly dominated proceedings and was in complete command throughout, scoring by 8½ lengths and opening a riding double for the apprentice.

Race two, a Restricted Allowance for horses that have won fewer than four races and run over the straight course went to the Anthony Nunes conditioned filly
Dutchess (7-1). Tajay Suckoo persuaded her to win by nearly two lengths clear of the field to open his riding double. For race three, with Bebeto Harvey astride and saddled by owner/trainer Steadman Curtis, Rum With Me at 8-5 beat 2-5 favourite Legal Bomb by 6½ lengths in an event for $200K claimers run on the five-furlong straight course.

In race four, run at six furlongs, Evertte Clunis closed his riding double and won with Lucy On The Go (6-1) for trainer Renex Burrell. The young reinsman made use of the opportunity to advertise his improving skill set with an outstanding display of jockeyship aboard Lucy On The Go to get to the line a nose in front of the field of nine $500K claimers.

Trainer Renex Burrell (left) and other connections in the winners’ enclosure with Lucy On The Go (Evertte Clunis). (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Two-time and reigning champion Raddesh Roman, back from an enforced injury-induced hiatus, got to the winners’ enclosure with Peter-John Parsard’s Never Despair (1-2), a two-length winner of the Restricted Allowance for four-year-olds and upwards, contested as race five on the five-furlong round course.

In a Maiden Condition 5½-furlong event confined to three-year-olds who have not finished higher than fourth, race six was won by Fratellanza (8-5), a US-bred but locally foaled filly who scored by a short head with only a half a length covering the first five to finish. The filly, partnered by claimer Garvin Harris, was trainer Dalton Sirjue’s third success from 13 starts this season.

Conditioned by Michael Cain Jr, who doubles as the promoter’s CCTV racing analyst, presented Crown Chaser (5-1) in unbeatable form for the seven-furlong gallop of race seven. The event for $1.0 million claimers was reduced to five starters in the absence of The Real Identity. Crown Chaser, the 2024 Derby winner, was always dominant and scored by eight lengths. Cain explained that his choice of jockey was to give Calvin Bailey the opportunity to win his first of the season.

As the very good day for graduates of the Jamaica Racing Commission Riding School claimers was extended in race eight over 5½ furlongs. In fact, seven of the nine races had Ramon Nepare displayed the requisite patience and confidence aboard Undeclared War (6-1) declared by owner/trainer Cashbert Kwhalsingh to wear down favourite Secret Mission (4-5) by a half a length for victory in the Restricted Allowance for five years and older non-winners of two races.

The closing race nine and featured event was the 21st renewal the of the Arthur Jones Memorial Cup staged to honour the exploits of the legendary 10-time champion reinsman. Tajay Suckoo confirmed double success with Mojito (4-5) from the stable of Richard Azan out-duelling 4-1 bet Wall Street Broker (4-1) by 1½ lengths at the distance of six furlongs.