Legit Boss blitzes field to cop Pick3 ‘Super Challenger’ Trophy
Legit Boss, from the barn of champion trainer Anthony Nunes, produced an electrifying run in deep stretch to upset his more fancied rivals in the $3.6-million Pick3 “Super Challenger” Trophy feature at Caymanas Park on Saturday.
Neglected at odds of 13/1 in the small field of seven runners, Legit Boss (Casual Trick–Bilingual) surprisingly came from off the pace to beat long-time Mamma Mia by 2 ½ lengths going away in the seven-furlong (1,400m) contest in a time of 1:28.3.
The Restricted Stakes race for native-bred two-year-olds was the second leg in the Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL) Two-Year-Old Triple Crown Series.
Legit Boss, by virtue of yesterday’s win, denied Mamma Mia, who won the first leg — the Cash Pot “Only One For Me” Trophy — the possibility of capturing all three races in the series. The series ends on December 27 (Boxing Day) with the $4-million SVL Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes going over one mile (1,600m).
Ridden by Tevin Foster, Legit Boss settled in fourth position down the backstretch as Mamma Mia (Robert Halledeen) dashed to the front and held the lead ahead of Awesome Anthony (Javaniel Patterson) and Durocell (Dick Cardenas).
Legit Boss continued to play the waiting game for most of the way until Foster let loose the notch and asked his mount to run, approaching the distance. With a couple of cracks from the whip and diamond change of holds from Foster in deep stretch , Legit Boss exploded like a cannon ball on fire and powered home easily in the end. Uncharter (Reyan Lewis) was second.
It was the second winner on the 10-race card for both Nunes and Foster as they teamed up with Nefertari, who was a five-length winner in the day’s ninth race.
Philip Feanny, a multiple-time champion trainer, also had two winners. Feanny won the third race with Taurus Boy (Anthony Thomas) and Prncsshootingstar (Oneil Mullings) in the eighth race.
Racing continues next Saturday with the inaugural staging of the ultra-rich US$125,000 Mouttet Mile.
— Ruddy Allen