RACING NEWS FOR SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 2022
TRAINER JOSEPH THOMAS IS OFF THE MARK
Veteran trainer Joseph Thomas saddled his first winner for the season when his charge Omron (Storm Craft – Impetus) romped a native-bred four-year-old and upwards maiden condition event over 7 ½ furlongs (1,500m).
Ridden by Dane Nelson, Omron was off to a decent start and was well relaxed in second place down the backstretch behind Conundrum (Andre Powell) with Longie Lala (Reyan Lewis) and Six Avenue (Youville Pinnock) racing in third and fourth places, respectively.
Navigating the half-mile turn (800m), Omron surged to the lead ahead of Conundrum and began to extend his advantage with every stride. Omron cruised entering the lane, drawing clear of rivals inside the final furlong (200m) to win by 13 lengths.
Tocatbetheglory (Richard Henry) finished second and Always Vigorous (Oneil Scott) came home in third place. The final time done by Omron was 1:37.3.
SUDDEN FLIGHT
Sudden Flight, owned by Carlton Watson, trained by Jason DaCosta, and ridden by Anthony Thomas, brushed aside rivals to win a three-year-old and upwards Optional Claiming ($550,000-$450,000) spread over 4 ½ furlongs (900m).
Sudden Flight (Natural Selection – Mayken Joy) tracked the pair of Balazo (Shane Richardson) and Formal Gladiator (Abigail Able) early in the proceediings with A Seh Soup (Youville Pinnock) for company.
Passing the dummy rails, Sudden Flight was already in full gear and took over the lead and began to draw away from the field. Sudden Flight powered home to win by 10 ¼ lengths ahead of Speechless (Javaniel Patterson) and A Seh Soup.
The final time of 53.3 erased the previous mark of 53.4 done by Power Ranking last year.
QUANNA
The Donovan Plummer-conditioned Quanna turned around his form and easily destroyed rivals in a native-bred five-year-old and upwards maiden contest over 6 furlongs.
Ridden by Anthony Thomas, Quanna (Smokin Man – Hailstorm) broke with the pack and then coupled up nicely on the inside rails to surge to the front of the pack going into the half-mile turn.
Navigating the turn, Quanna pressed ahead to enter the straight with a sizeable lead. The five-year-old dark bay gelding upped the tempo in deep stretch and went on to win by a “city block”, 21 lengths ahead of Euphoria (Hakeem Pottinger) and Run Jaya Run (Dane Nelson). The winning time was 1:16.3.
JJ WARRIOR
Running with the blinkers on and visor off, JJ Warrior, trained by Gary Subratie got the job done in a four-year-old and upwards – non-winners of two races.
In no rush, JJ Warrior, travelling over nine furlongs and 25 yards (1,820m) with Paul Francis in the irons, sat in fourth place going around the clubhouse turn behind Traditional Boy (Natalie Berger), King Antholew (Javaniel Patterson), and Maya (Tevin Foster).
JJ Warrior improved one place to third entering the main track and down the backstretch, overtaking Maya in the process. Approaching the home turn, JJ Warrior was second to King Antholew before hitting the front at the top of the lane.
JJ Warrior went on to win by 4 ¼ lengths ahead of King Antholew and Itiz What Itiz (Dane Dawkins) in a time of 2:02.0.
SIX HORSES CLAIMED
Winner of the third race Sudden Flight was claimed from Jason DaCosta for $550,000 by Ryan Darby.
From the fourth race, Joseph Thomas claimed Faulyna Forever for owner KT Racing Stable from Rudolph Hardial, Michael Thomas claimed Danceallnight for owner Jahlene Thomas from Joseph Thomas, and Ian Roberts claimed Star Lee for owner Richardo Durrant from Victor Williams. All horses were claimed for $250,000 each.
In the sixth race, Patrick Lynch claimed Rohan Kabir for owner The Player from Dennis Pryce for $1 million and Ryan Darby claimed Unknown Soldier for owner True Friends from Phillip Lee, also for $1 million.