RACING NEWS FOR SATURDAY, JULY 1, 2023
The Love Of God, trained by Lawrence Freemantle and ridden by Javaniel Patterson, easily won the $990,000 Supa Lei Trophy, a maiden condition race for native-bred three-year-old fillies over 5½ furlongs (1,100m).
The Love Of God was off to a good start as the chestnut filly tracked Veliki Vicki (Paul Francis) from second place going into the half-mile (800m) turn. The Love Of God then pointed on Veliki Vicki leaving the three-furlong (600m) marker and brought the field into the lane.
The Love of God increased the tempo in deep stretch and ran out an easy 5½-length winner at the wire. Hot Stepper (Tevin Foster) came on to finish second ahead of Veliki Vicki in third place.
After splits of 24.0 x 48.2 the final time was clocked at 1:10.3.
SUNSHINE CAT
Nine-year-old chestnut mare Sunshine Cat completed her second-consecutive victory in a three-year-old and upwards Optional Claiming ($250,000-$200,000) race that also included six-year-olds and upwards (non-winners of three) and native-bred five-year-olds and upward (non-winners of two) going seven furlongs (1,400m).
Sunshine Cat, ridden by Oneil Mullings for trainer Oral Hayden, settled in third place down the backstretch behind Reggae Gone Grammy (Devon A Thomas), who raced on the front end ahead of Garrincha (Phillip Parchment).
Sunshine Cat followed the leaders into the half-mile turn before moving to the front approaching the distance. Sunshine Cat held off Garrincha’s charge as they approached the finish line, winning by two lengths.
Garrincha finished second, with War Of The Roses (Reyan Lewis) ending in third place. The winning time was of 1:33.3 (25.2 x 49.4 x 1:16.2).
Secret Traveller, stepping down from the Overnight Allowance level, easily defeated rivals in a three-year-and-upwards Claiming ($1,000,000 – $800,000) contest at seven furlongs.
The Robert Ffrench-trained Secret Traveller was held in second place behind Hecandance (Omar Walker) down the backstretch by champion jockey Dane Dawkins. Secret Traveller kept up a good gallop until navigating the home bend when he pushed ahead of Hecandance and Iannai Links (Reyan Lewis). Secret Traveller wasted no time, charging home to win by 5 3/4 lengths at the wire.
Inspired Miracle (Ameth Robles) finished second, ahead of Iannai Links in the third slot. The race finished in a time of 1:29.1 (24.3 x 48.0 x 1:14.1).
ZABRATONE
Zabratone easily obliged as the favourite in a three-year-old and upwards Optional Claiming ($550,000-$450,000) spread that also included six-year-olds and upwards (non-winners of three) travelling seven furlongs.
Zabratone, trained by Nicholas Smith with Reyan Lewis holding the reins, settled in second place after the barriers were opened racing behind Wowza (Paul Francis) down the backstretch, with Dodge This Link (Oshane Nugent) running in third place.
Going into the half-mile Zabratone surged to the front, bringing the field into the lane ahead of Dodge This Link and Wowza. Zabratone kept his gallop well in deep stretch and came home in an easy length winner at the line in a time of 1:30.4.
Dodge This Link held on to second position ahead of Anchorman (Tevin Foster) in third place.
EIGHT HORSES CLAIMED
In the fourth race Anthony Dixon claimed Sunshine Cat for owner Keeble Roberts and Dwight Falconer for $250,000 from Oral Hayden, and Gordon Lewis claimed Whatever for himself, also for $250,000, from Cashbert Khwalsingh.
O’Neil Markland claimed Katalina for owner Michael Howard from Paul Swaby, while Fitzgerald Richards claimed Sir John for owner Mark Walker from Steven Todd from the fifth race. Both horses from the fifth event were claimed for $1 million each.
In the eighth race Ryan Williams claimed Zabratone for owner David Pottinger from Nicholas Smith, Greg Fennell claimed Dodge This Link for owner Raymond Townsend from Howard Bailey, Maurice Crooks claimed Hijo Primero for himself from Lesra Thompson, and Omar Williams claimed Anchorman for owner Henry Dalhouse from Anthony Thomas. All horses from the eighth event were claimed at $550,000 each.