Superb Mojito rockets to 2000 Guineas victory
MOJITO maintained his dominance over contemporaries with another convincing performance, this time in the 49th running of the $3.75-million Jamaica 2000 Guineas Classic, sponsored by BetMakers Technology Group.
Mojito, last season’s champion two-year-old, smashed competitors by 12 1/2 lengths in the Futurity race for native-bred three-year-old colts and geldings over one mile (1,600m) at Caymanas Park on Sunday.
Trained by Hall of Fame conditioner Richard Azan, Mojito stopped the clock at 1:37.2 (24.1 x 46.3 x 1:10.3) for his fifth-consecutive victory in seven lifetime starts.
Mojito moved slowly into stride at the break, with champion rider Dane Dawkins in the irons as Awesome Anthony (Javaniel Patterson) kept a narrow lead ahead of Ability (Linton Steadman) and Burning Valor (Phillip Parchment) on reaching the seven-furlong (1,400m) monument.
But Mojito recovered admirably on the inside rails and pushed to the front ahead of rivals as the six-furlong (1,200m) mark approached, proceeding to open up on opponents nearing the half-mile point. The writing was on the wall from then on and the only question remaining was how far the Savoy Stomp offspring would win by, which was answered forcefully.
Money Miser (Reyan Lewis) was a distant second, with Ability coming in third. In the nine-horse field Rhythm Buzz (Anthony Thomas) completed the frame.
Meanwhile Lewis, the leading rider, mounted three winners on the 10-race card to keep his victory streak going. Lewis won the first race aboard Tocatbetheglory for breeder, owner, and trainer Carl Anderson; the fourth race aboard Inspire Force for many-time champion trainer Philip Feanny; and the seventh race aboard Life Is Life for champion trainer Jason DaCosta.
Racing continues on Saturday.