Rhythm Buzz sparkles going two turns
Trainer Vincent Atkinson (left) examines his charge Rhythm Buzz in the winners' enclosure. The jockey is Andre Powell and listed groom Clifford Byrd is at right. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

The Vincent Atkinson-conditioned bay colt Rhythm Buzz could be set for a bright future following his impressive win in the $990,000 Sir Mohandas Baba/Major Mayor Maiden Special Weight contest for native-bred three year olds on Sunday, March 19, 2023.

Going two turns at nine furlongs and 25 yards, Rhythm Buzz sat just behind the early pace for most of the way, but produced a telling effort coming off the final turn to win going away by 2 ¼ lengths in an encouraging time of 1:59.4 (27.3 x 52.0 x 1:17.2 x 1:44.1).

Rhythm Buzz sat in fifth place behind Antarctica (Trevor Simpson), Roaring Thunder (Raddesh Roman), Modern Miracle (Youville Pinnock), and Manoushe (Dane Dawkins) going around the clubhouse turn and onto the main track.

Jockey Andre Powell urged Rhythm Buzz down the backstretch, and the bay colt quickly slipped down into third place behind Antarctica and Modern Miracle, heading towards the 5-furlong mark. The writing was already on the wall when Rhythm Buzz moved down into second place and went in pursuit of Antarctica approaching in the distance.

Rhythm Buzz (Andre Powell) winning a Maiden Special Weight Contest over nine furlongs and 25 yards on Sunday, March 19, 2023. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

With a couple of change of holds and cracks from the whip, Rhythm Buzz turned on the pressure in deep stretch and powered his way home easily in the end. Antarctica had nothing left in his tank to answer the call from Rhythm Buzz and had to settle for second place as Manoushe finished in third place.

With that manner of victory, Rhythm Buzz crept into the pool of runners with the possibility of making it into the Classics later this year.

"I always figured that he [Rhythm Buzz] was like his brother Stomp The Rhythm, who loves turn races. They love two turns, and I guess that they got that from the mare. He is a big horse with long strides, so I know he would get there," Atkinson told The Supreme Racing Guide.

"Maybe with another horse up front, we would probably have a problem, but with the leader, Antarctica, I didn't think he would have gone too far because of the breeding. He [Powell] rode the horse several times before, and so I just told him to go and win the race.

"We will just keep going and see how far he [Rhythm Buzz] is able to go, and we are hopeful we can get somewhere in some of the bigger races that come. Let's see where he takes us," Atkinson said.

Rhythm Buzz is a three-year-old bay colt bred by Buzz Nightmare our of the War Chant mare River Rhythm.

BY RUDDY ALLEN Staff reporter ruddya@jamaicaobserver.com

Now you can read the Jamaica Observer ePaper anytime, anywhere. The Jamaica Observer ePaper is available to you at home or at work, and is the same edition as the printed copy available at https://bit.ly/epaper-login

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
Polls

Which long-term investment option is more attractive to you at the moment?