Maverick will get his chance at redemption when he lines up as the one to beat in this afternoon’s sixth running of the $3.75-million Winston “Fanna” Griffiths OD Classic at Caymanas Park.

Conditioned by champion trainer Jason DaCosta, the three-year-old bay colt suffered a heartbreaking nose defeat in the Jamaica Derby Classic on August 6. Ridden that day by Calvin Bailey, Maverick surged to the front approaching the final furlong of the 12-furlong (2,400m) feature and looked certain to win, only to be nailed on the wire by stablemate
London Spirit (Tevin Foster).

Today he gets a better setup. Dropped back to nine and a half furlongs (1,900m) and with a change in rider to Robert Halledeen, Maverick should prove too strong for this native-bred field. He has reportedly trained very well leading up to the race and is expected to dictate terms from early and lead them home.

The Graded Stakes contest is the ninth and final race on the card with post time 5:40 pm and the first post at noon.

The chief threat appears to be I Love Birdie. The bay colt was only one and a half lengths behind London Spirit and Maverick when third in the Derby. He returned on August 22 and made no mistake, winning over one mile (1,600m) by one and a half lengths in 1:42.0. His form was further boosted on Tuesday when he breezed four furlongs in a sharp 49.3, suggesting he has come on nicely for this.

Stardom must also be respected. He finished fifth, beaten 11 lengths, in the Derby, but his CV reads well — winner of the Kingston over seven and a half furlongs (1,500m) and runner-up in the Jamaica 2000 Guineas over one mile.

Eye of the Tiger, Fidelity, and Minnehaha all have early speed and should ensure a honest pace, but they are expected to tire in the latter stages.

Tia Maria, Darwin, Senor Biscotti, Bigger Boss, and Another Wow may pick up pieces late, but on form they are not expected to trouble the top three.

With the Derby pain still fresh and conditions now in his favour, Maverick looks set to atone and land the biggest prize of his career so far.

Ones to watch:

Race 1)
Natural Dancer/Dream To Reality/Generational

Race 2)
Dashallday/City of Dreams/Code Red

Race 3)
Prince Roy/Lockdown/Slam Sharp

Race 4)
Princess Kris/Cosalivin/He’s Sensational

Race 5)
Money Monster/Life is Life/Big Big Daddy

Race 6)
I Am Fred/Principal Tiffany/Rum With Me

Race 7)
El Capiton/Native Isle/D.O.K

Race 8)
Belleza Gris/Another Mission/Kellan

Race 9)
Maverick/I Love Birdie/Stardom