EQUIPMENT CHANGES AND VALIANT IS A WINNER
Running with the blinkers off and the cheek pieces on, the Derrick Roman-owned and trained Valiant rallied from behind to win a native-bred five-year-old and upward maiden condition race over six furlongs (1,200m).
Ridden by Romario Spencer, Valiant (Traditional – Velocity) settled among the backmarkers for most of the trip as Galway Bay (Everton Miller) led the race early ahead of Euphoria (Hakeem Pottinger) and Crushing Power (Jordan Barrett).
Valiant continued to tag along as Hunter’s Ridge (Jawani Forbes) hit the front looking to steal march on rivals. With a furlong (200m) to go, Valiant came on strong with a scorching, sweeping by all to win, going away by a length and a quarter.
Dr Sahir Alexander (Ramon Nepare) also came off the pace to finish second with Plutologist (Devon A Thomas) getting up for third. The final time was 1:20.3.
VISOR OFF, FIGURE-8 OFF AND JAMAICAN STORM ARRIVES IN TIME
With the visor and figure-8 off, Jamaican Storm, under a well-executed ride from Roger Hewitt, got up in time to win a five-year-old and upwards Optional Claiming ($180,000-$150,000) spread at over six furlongs.
The Nextbigting (Anthony Thomas) jumped to the front at the off and held the lead ahead of Radical (Phillip Parchment) and Rockdale (Sadiki Blake) as Jamaica Storm was held among the backmarkers after a sluggish start.
Jamaican Storm began to pick up pace navigating the half-mile turn but was still well behind the leaders as The Nextbigting took the runners into the turn ahead of Rockdale. Turning for home, Jamaica Storm got going and when all seemed done and dusted inside the final furlong, the seven-year-old bay gelding found extra and got up in time to nip The Nextbigting close to home, winning by ½ length.
Powerful Red (Shane Richardson) came through to get third place as the final time was recorded at 1:18.3.
BALAZO WINS AGAIN
Trained by Fitzgerald Richards and ridden by Youville Pinnock, eight-year-old chestnut gelding Balazo earned his second consecutive victory in a front-running display to win an Optional Claiming ($550,000-$450,000) race for three-year-old and upwards horses over five furlongs on the round course.
Balazo shot to the front at the start of the race and quickly began to open up on rivals going into the half-mile turn, chased by Kholbear (Natalie Berger), Casual Charm (Paul Francis), and Strikinglygorgeous (Jordan Barrett).
Entering the lane, Balazo continued his fleet-footed display, holding his gallop well to the wire, to win by a length from Kholbear, Baltusrol (Robert Halledeen), and It’s All I (Roger Hewitt) in that order. The final time was 1:02.1.
JUST AN ILLUSION IN ONE SHAKE
Five-year-old bay mare Just An Illusion made one get up in a Restricted Allowance IV event for five-year-olds and upwards over six furlongs.
Jockey Dick Cardenas sent the Joseph Thomas-trained Just An Illusion from the outside 13 post to the lead at the start. The bay mare led the race ahead of Nina Dorada (Javaniel Patterson), Jolly Dreams (Tevin Foster), and Redford (Devon A Thomas).
Navigating the half-mile (800m) turn and approaching the distance, Just An Illusion was strongly challenged by Dodge This Link (Dane Dawkins) and Redford. But turning for home, Just An Illusion kicked and powered her way home to a length-and-quarter win.
Redford was second and Dodge This Link third. The final time was 1:16.0.
SIX HORSES CLAIMED
Victor Williams claimed The Nextbigthing out of the second race for owner Christopher Bruce for $180,000 from David Powell.
In the third race, Patrick Fong claimed winner Dallas for owner Somora Clarke for $250,000 from Anthony Smith, and Byron Davis claimed Awesome Aviator for owner Garth Samuels, also for $250,000, from Marlon Anderson.
In the fourth race Norman Smith claimed Baltusrol for owner Charles Walsh from Renex Burrell; Byron Davis claimed Color Me Tan for owner Baldwin Williams from Alford Brown, and Rowan Mathie claimed Kholbear for owner Lloyd Davis from Colin Ferguson. All horses were claimed at $550,000 each.
