Racing News — Saturday, April 29, 2023
HENRY HARRISON JR OFF
Trainer Henry Harrison Jr saddled his first winner for the season after his charge easily won a five-year-old and upwards Claiming ($180,000-$150,000) call that also included six-year-olds and upwards (non-winners of two) at four furlongs (800m).
Ridden by Nicholas Hibbert, Money Marshall after leaving his starting barrier disputed the early lead along with Seadon (Natalie Berger) and Crushing Power (Anthony Thomas). Coming across the dummy rails and onto the main track for the last two furlongs (400m), Money Marshall took control of the race and began to draw away from rivals.
Money Marshall cruised home, scoring by 3 ½ lengths, ending in a time of 50.0. Matriarch (Roger Hewitt) finished in second place, some two lengths ahead of Okahumpka (Reyan Lewis) in third.
NO PROBLEM FOR
Five-year-old bay horse Nuclear Noon, who took a drop from Open Allowance to contest a three-year-old and upwards Claiming ($1m-$800,000) contest, easily obliged as the favourite in the six-furlong (1,200m) event.
Trained by Anthony Nunes and ridden by Tevin Foster, Nuclear Noon settled just behind the early pacesetters as Bugatti (Phillip Parchment) led the field ahead of Run With Me (Roger Hewitt) and Alexa’s Dream (Dane Dawkins) going into the half-mile (800m) turn.
Approaching the distance, Nuclear Noon rounded horses to go down into second behind Rum With Me. Nuclear Noon joined Rum With Me entering the lane before pulling away inside the furlong-and-a-half (300m) pole to an easy 7 ¾ length winner.
Alexa’s Dream finished second place, with Sheboom (Jerome Innis) in the third slot. The final time for the event was 1:14.1 (23.0 x 46.2).
RICKY RICARDO
Trained by Errol Subratie and ridden by Reyan Lewis, Ricky Ricardo made no mistake, putting away rivals in a three-year-old and upwards Optional Claiming ($250,000-$200,000) spread that included native-bred six-year-olds and upwards (non-winners of three) travelling 7 ½ furlongs (1,500m).
It was an even start for most of the runners in the eight-horse field, with several horses vying for the early lead. War of the Roses (Omar Walker) then emerged from the pack as the leader ahead of Ricky Ricardo, Reggae Gone Grammy (Oneil Mullings), and Purposely (Ramon Napare). Going into the half-mile turn, War of the Roses and Ricky Ricardo drew away for the field in a battle of their own.
Approaching the distance, Ricky Ricardo assumed the lead and brought the field into the straight, and although drifting off a true line in deep stretch, the eight-year-old won comfortably in by 3 ¾ lengths.
Whatever (Roger Hewitt) finished second and Sunshine Cat (Anthony Thomas) third. The final time was 1:39.1.
TRUE BRAVADO
True Bravado led from start to finish in a native-bred five-year-old and upwards (non-winners of three) and imported five-year-olds and upwards (non-winners of two) at 5 ½ furlongs (1,100m).
With Phillip Parchment in the saddle for owner/trainer Donovan Russell, True Bravado shot to the front at the start, holding the lead ahead of Big Argument (Paul Francis) going into the half-mile turn.
True Bravado continued to blaze the trail ahead of Big Argument and Silver Fox (Dane Dawkins) approaching in the distance, and brought the field into the lane with a strong lead. Although he began to shorten in the final stages of the race, True Bravado had done more than enough early on to win by a head at the wire from the fast-finishing Silver Fox. Traditional Boy (Richard Henry) finished third with a final time of 1:09.1 (23.0 x 46.3).
EIGHT HORSES CLAIMED
Ryan Darby claimed Okahumpka for owner Raphael Gordon from Christopher Pierre for $180,000 and Fitzgerald Richards claimed Matriarch for owner Stanley Lindsay from Michael Hall, also for $180,000, from the first race.
In the second race, Steven Todd claimed Alexa’s Dream for $1 million for owner Black Brothers from Gary Subratie and Paul Hylton claimed Sheboom for $1 million for owner Dennis Lee from Patrick Fong.
In the third race, Cashbert Khwalsingh claimed Whatever for owner Gilbert Khwalsingh from Steven Todd, Tyrone Prince claimed Sunshine Cat for owner Rabalac Connection from Steven Todd, Borris McIntosh claimed War Of The Roses for owner Devon Brown from Percival Hussey, and Tyrone Prince claimed Ricky Ricardo for owner Joseph Martin from Errol Subratie. All claims were made for $250,000 each.