KIAH LANDS MASSIVE 45-1 UPSET
The Robert Ffrench-conditioned Kiah created a huge upset, beating rivals at long odds of 45-1 in the three-year-old and upwards Optional Claiming ($250,000-$200,000) event (non-winners of two) over 7 furlongs (1,400m).
Ridden by Reyan Lewis, Kiah got out of the gates in good order, settling in third place behind Ali (Javaniel Patterson) and Kunama (Shane Richardson) down the backstretch. Kiah maintained his position going into the half-mile turn (800m) when Silent Cat (Anthony Thomas) surrounded horses and picked up the lead ahead of Ali.
Approaching the distance, Kiah slipped down into second place before producing a strong run in deep stretch to get up in time for the win. Kiah won by a length ahead of My Mom Juss (Roger Hewitt) and Silent Cat in a time of 1:32.4.
STANISLAUS IN EASY ROMP
Eight-year-old chestnut gelding Stanislaus easily won the three-year-old and upwards Optional Claiming ($250,000-$200,000) call down the 4 - furlong (800m) chute.
Trained by Ryan Williams and ridden by Oshane Nugent, Stanislaus challenged for the early lead with Tequila Blue (Aaron Chatrie), Blu Attitude (Ricardo Duhaney) and Supreme Star (Shavon Townsend). As the runners sorted themselves out crossing the dummy rails Stanislaus began to draw clear from his opponents, winning comfortably by 6 lengths.
Supreme Star galloped effectively to hold on for second place as Blu Attitude came through for third place. The final time for the event was 48.3.
BABYLIKE MAKES ONE MOVE
Trained by Philip Feanny and ridden by champion jockey Anthony Thomas, Babylike made one move to win the Restricted Allowance II contest for native-bred three-year-olds (non-winners of two)/imported three-year-olds and upward (maiden) travelling 7½ furlongs (1,500m).
Babylike took control of the race from early and led the field passing the intersection at the 7-furlong pole and down the backstretch ahead of Joe (Omar Simpson), G T Boy (Tevin Foster) and Salute The Deputy (Oshane Nugent).
Babylike was easy on the headlines until navigating the half-mile turn when she upped the tempo and drew off from rivals as G T Boy went down in second place. Babylike turned for home with a good lead and then kicked on in deep stretch to win going away by 4¾ lengths.
G T Boy finished second, with Don Vincenzo (Shane Ellis) coming on strong towards the end to earn third. After splits of 24.1 x 47.4 x 1:13.0, the final time was recorded at 1:35.3.
NORTHERN LADY GOES ONE BETTER
After finishing in second place in her last two starts, Northern Lady went one better in a Non-Restricted Maiden Condition Race for native-bred three-year-olds at 7 furlongs.
Jockey Dane Dawkins held the Patrick Lynch-trained Northern Lady in third place down the backstretch behind King Air (Youville Pinnock) and She’s Nae Nae (Oneil Mullings). Northern Lady then went in chase of King Air going into the half-mile and looked like a real threat approaching the distance.
Turning for home on the outside, Northern Lady joined King Air for a brief battle in deep stretch before drawing away for an easy 6¾ length win in a time of 1:30.3. King Air held for second with Asurety (Anthony Thomas) occupying the third place.
NINE HORSES CLAIMED
Ryan Williams claimed Silent Cat for himself for $250,000, and Alford Brown claimed My Mom Juss for owner Paul Nugent, also for $250,000, from the first race.
In the second race Tensang Chung claimed Tequila Blue for owner Delroy Wallace, Steven Todd claimed Stanislaus for owner Delroy Wellington, Henry Harrison Jr claimed Blu Attitude for himself, and Stedman Curtis claimed Ultimatum for owner Anthony Lawrence. All horses from the second event were claimed at a price of $250,000 each.
In the seventh race Ryan Darby claimed Doctor Grey for owner Preston Munroe, Dale Murphy claimed Olde Wharf for owner Brian Chen, and Donovan Plummer claimed Hecandance for owner Langford Jackto. All horses were claimed for $400,000 each.
