Champion trainer Jason DaCosta holds the aces in the $1.14-million Henry W Jaghai OD,JP Trophy feature race as his American-bred runners Eagle One and Madelyn’s Sunshine are the two contenders for the Overnight Allowance contest going six furlongs (1,200m) at Caymanas Park today.

The two foreigners last met on March 5 during the Millard Ziadie Memorial Cup over five and a half furlongs (1,100m) in which Eagle One finished second by 2¾ lengths behind winner Nuclear Noon, and Madelyn’s Sunshine was a length and a quarter behind his stablemate that day in third place. The race ended in a time of 1:07.1.

A case could be made for Madelyn’s Sunshine as the four-year-old dark bay/brown filly was coming off a near-two-month break and was asked to do too much on the headline from early on in the race. When ready to run in deep stretch Madelyn’s Sunshine was left flat-footed and never had anything left in the tank to stage a rally, finishing four lengths off the winner at the wire.

However, her second-place finish behind Excessive Force in last November’s Port Royal Sprint over the distance was more than comfortable enough to put these away on a merry clip. Madelyn’s Sunshine set splits of 22.4 x 46.2 to finish a length off the winner in a time of 1:12.1. Although Madelyn’s Sunshine is yet to win at this level this three-year-old and upward event represents the best opportunity for the Joe’s Son Joey–Madelyn’s Finest offspring to do so.

Madelyn’s Sunshine has worked brilliantly for this race, having clocked five and a half furlongs (1,100m) in 1:08.4 with the last five furlongs (1,000m) done in 1:02.4 on March 15. Former three-time champion jockey Anthony Thomas has the leg up.

Eagle One’s effort, on the other hand, was a more surprising one based on the fact that his three previous runs were disappointing in races in which he should have been competitive. However, the six-year-old bay colt has the back class and is talented enough to land telling blows once he is fit and ready.

Now that his well-being has been exposed, look for another strong effort that could see him upstaging his stablemate once again. Jockey Reyan Lewis will ride.

Both Madelyn’s Sunshine and Eagle One are owned by champion Carlton Watson.

The contest is positioned as the ninth event on the 10-race card with a post time of 4:35 pm and the first post at 11:45 am.

The rest is very much between Madelyn’s Sunshine and Eagle One as the other runners in the nine-horse field don’t possess enough class or talent to touch either one, so finishing in the money should be their top priority.

The field is completed by Unruly Boss, Rum With Me, Taurus Boy, Outbidder, Secret Traveller, Generational, and Alexa’s Dream.

Ones to watch:

Race 1) Anchorman/Don Vincenzo/Fly Messenger Fly

Race 2) Zabratone/Wowza/Vampire Rejection

Race 3) Sensational Storm/Hopenperserverance/No Surrender

Race 4) Timetosaygoodbye/Schlesinger/Money Marshall

Race 5) Danny Spud/Just An Illusion/Dodge This Link

Race 6) Ianzha Links/Oldkingcole/Snowflakes

Race 7) Manoushe/Rhythm Buzz/Roaring Thunder

Race 8) Leading Lad/Uncharter/May Sellington

Race 9) Madelyn’s Sunshine/Eagle One/Taurus Boy

Race 10) Rainsville/Lacrimae/Real Boss