Racing News – Sunday, January 22, 2023
SIX HORSES CLAIMED
Four were claimed from the first event and will be under new orders when next at the races. Trainer Ian Alexander claimed winner My Mom Juss from Stedman Curtis for himself and runner-up Stallwalkin’Girl went to Edward Stanberry for owner Vinute Taylor from the barn of Ryan Williams. Williams in turn claimed Whatever from Byron Davis for himself, while Prince Dominick was claimed from Edward Walker by Henry Harrison Jr for owner Winston Taylor. All were tagged for $250,000 each.
Fifth-race winner Hecandance was also claimed by Ryan Williams for owner David Pottinger from Donovan Plummer, and Dodge This Link was taken from Jason DaCosta by Rowan Mathie for owner Michael Bisasor. Both went for $400,000 each.
STEADMAN CURTIS OFF THE MARK WITH MY MOM JUSS AND BLINKERS OFF
My Mom Juss scored a long overdue win in a four-year-old and upwards Optional Claiming event at 7 1/2 furlongs (1,500m).
The win by the eight-year-old bay mare (Distorted –Platinum Valley) opened trainer Curtis Stedman’s account for the season, two weeks after he claimed My Mom Juss.
My Mom Juss, who went winless last year, placed fifth for trainer Alford Brown on her January 2 seasonal bow behind Stallwalkin’Girl over 9 furlongs and 25 yards (1,820m). It was at that point that Curtis snapped up the late-running horse for owner Samora Clarke and took his time before throwing My Mom Juss back into action against her previous conqueror Stallwalkin’Girl.
The journeyman trainer, with all his experience, opted to run My Mom Juss without the blinkers on this occasion and that move may have been what made the difference.
Piloted by leading female rider Samantha Fletcher, My Mom Juss left the gates in good order but was quickly taken off the pace set by Kunama (Anthony Allen), with Ridewiththemob (Tevin Foster) and Stallwalkin’Girl (Anthony Thomas) in tow.
At the half mile Prince Dominick (Jawani Forbes) rushed through to take over proceedings ahead of Kunama, Ridewiththemob and Stallwalkin’Girl. Fletcher and My Mom Juss were a further two lengths behind, gearing up to make a move which came when they flashed past the three-furlong point.
By the time Prince Dominick and Stallwalkin’Girl entered the home stretch My Mom Juss was already up on their shoulders out wide and before long they were in front and moving away, leaving rivals at the furlong pole.
My Mom Juss won by five and a half lengths in a flat 1:40.0, behind splits of 25.3, 50.1 and 1:17.0. Stallwalkin’Girl, Whatever and Prince Dominick completed the frame.
“CHAMPO” AT HIS BEST ABOARD HECANDANCE
If anyone thought that former champion jockey Omar “Champo” Walker had lost his touch, think again.
The many-time top jock was at his best when guiding Donovan Plummer’s Hecandance to victory in a three-year-old and upwards Optional Claiming ($400,000-$300,000) event for non-winners of three races and imported non-winners of four races, going 7 furlongs (1,400m).
After winning only once in eight starts last year, Hecandance (American Dance –Candace), who last ran on December 17, was well presented by Plummer for his season entry and the seven-year-old bay gelding performed accordingly.
Sent to the front by Walker from post position eight, Hecandance bounced comfortably on the lead for most of the way while being tracked by favourite Dodge This Link (Dane Dawkins) and Duke of Springs (Phillip Parchment).
Leaving the half mile, Walker gradually asked Hecandance to go and they opened up a two-length gap which was quickly cut into by Dodge This Link who was now into his running.
Despite the presence of Dodge This Link, who swept by and looked all over a winner in the lane, Walker reserved Hecandance on the inside rails until they got to the furlong pole. It was at this point that he asked his mount for a final effort, and that he did to flash by the tiring Dodge This Link, winning by one and a half lengths.
Garrincha (Aaron Chatrie) closed fast for second ahead of Dodge This Link, with Duke of Springs back in fourth. The winner covered the distance in 1:31.3 after splits of 24.4, 49.0 and 1:15.2.
GENERAL CHIEF CONNECTS ON FOURTH OUTING
Much was always expected of General Chief when he first made his debut over four furlongs (800m) in July last year. However, that and his second outing over seven furlongs on August 6 both yielded poor performances which brought his trainer Spencer Chung back to the drawing board.
Chung then brought the four-year-old grey colt (Savoy Stamp –Ecstatic) back on December 31 for a third attempt at shedding the maiden tag, and though it was a much-improved performance over five furlongs straight (1,000m), General Chief played second fiddle to Posing Already.
But another opportunity presented itself over the five-straight course, and this time General Chief, making his seasonal debut, made no mistakes in the four-year-old and upwards maiden and untried contest.
Sent off as the overwhelming 4-5 favourite, General Chief had to be urged early by jockey Reyan Lewis to keep pace with the leaders Rani Bangala (Robert Halledeen) and Blue Persuasion (Omar Walker).
Once General Chief settled into his running coming on to the main course it merely became a question of how far he would win by, especially when he got by Rani Bangala at the furlong pole. The Doks Stable-owned General Chief won by four and a half lengths ahead of Rani Bangala, Select Me (Tevin Foster), and the fast-finishing Salud (Christopher Mamdeen).
The final time was 1:02.4, behind splits of 24.0 and 47.4 seconds.
— Sherdon Cowan