EASY DOES IT FOR STORM VALLEY
Storm Valley, owned and trained by Joseph Thomas, easily defeated rivals in a five-year-old and upwards Claiming ($180,000-$150,000) call going 5 ½ furlongs (1,100m).
Storm Valley, ridden by Anthony Thomas, got a good start and chased Nasdaq Princess (Shane Richardson) into the half-mile (800m) turn before surging to the front full of running as the distance approached.
Storm Valley entered the home stretch with a healthy lead and held his gallop well to win by 8 3/4 lengths on the bridle at the finish. Party Princess (Shavon Townsend), who was always prominent throughout the race, finished second, 9 ½ lengths in front of Wreckless Diamond (Roger Hewitt), in third place. The final time done by Storm Valley was clocked at 1:11.2.
DUKE OF SPRINGS BENEFITS FROM EQUIPMENT CHANGE
Running with the blinkers off, Duke of Springs romped home easily in a five-year-old and upwards (non-winners of three) event at 6 ½ furlongs (1,300m).
Trained by Tensang Chung and ridden by Phillip Parchment, Duke of Springs raced among the backmarkers down the stretch as Purposely (Ramon Nepare) led the small field of seven runners ahead of Three Card Guy (Samantha Fletcher) and Oh My Goodness (Shavon Townsend).
Duke of Springs came into view at the half-mile turn when he slipped down before going in pursuit of new leader Sensational Satin entering the lane for the stretch drive. Duke of Springs briefly raced alongside Sensational Satin before pulling away to win by 2 1/2 lengths.
Sensational Satin held on for second place, with Three Card Guy finishing in the third slot. The final time was 1:25.0.
DENBIGH LIFE COMES GOOD DOWN THE STRAIGHT
Six-year-old chestnut mare Denbigh Life made light work of rivals in a three-year-old and upward Optional Claiming ($550,000-$450,000) race that included five-year-old and upward (non-winners of four) and imported five-year-old and upward (non-winners of three) over 5 furlongs (1,000m) straight.
Denbigh Life showed good speed at the off and disputed the early lead with Sudden Flight (Tevin Foster) and Balazo (Oshane Nugent). As the runners sorted themselves out crossing the dummy rails, Denbigh Life emerged as the lone leader and began to edge away from the field.
Denbigh Life, trained by Donovan Plummer and ridden by Devon A Thomas, won going away by 7 ¾ lengths in a time of 1:00.3 with splits of 23.2 x 46.3.
Fabulosity (Roger Hewitt) came from behind runners to get second place on the wire ahead of Sudden Flight.
POWER PROVES TOO STRONG FOR RIVALS
Power, from the stables of many-time champion conditioner Philip Feanny, in a commanding effort, destroyed rivals in a Restricted Stakes contest for imported three-year-olds and upwards (non-winners of three).
With Anthony Thomas in the saddle, Power was with the early leaders in third place behind March and Shoot (Shavon Townsend) and The Citadel (Jerome Innis) down the backstretch. Power was held together as Justin Biden (Shane Richardson) went by leaving the 6-furlong point (1,200m).
Navigating the half-mile, Power surrounded horses and joined The Citadel on the front end before pointing approaching the distance. With the momentum going his way, Power turned on the pressure in deep stretch and powered home to score by 8 ½ lengths in a time of 1:46.3.
Stomp The Rhythm (Dane Dawkins) came on strong in deep stretch to get second place, some 5 ½ lengths in front of Pelicula (Tevin Foster), who finished third.
SEVEN HORSES CLAIMED
Christopher Pierre claimed Sly Stalloon for owner Wayne Henry from Stedman Curtis, Tyrone Prince claimed Party Princess for owner Khamoal Nichol from Byron Davis, and Phillip Elliot claimed Storm Valley for himself from Joseph Thomas from the first race. All horses from the first event were claimed for $180,000 each.
In the fourth race, Welsh Soutar claimed Bin Laden for owner Carl Gordon from Fitzroy Glispie, Jason DaCosta claimed Dodge This Link for owner Carlton Watson from Fernando Geddes; Tyrone Prince claimed Denbigh Life for owner Lisa Watson from Donovan Plummer, and Keffin Murray claimed Balazo for owner Aston Henry from Alford Brown. Each horse in the fourth was claimed for $550,000.
