KINGSTON, Jamaica - Race Car returned from a three-month break down-in-class and easily won the Arthur Jones Cup, the closing event over 6 furlongs (1,200 metres) at Caymanas Park on Saturday, August 21, 2022.
Race Car, who was unsuccessful in three attempts at the class above, dispatched rivals by a length and a half in the Overnight Allowance three-year-old and upwards call on the 10-race card.
Race Car was winning for only the second time for the season and ran the distance in a time of 1:13.3 seconds with aiding fractions of 23:1 x 47:1 seconds. Fellow American-bred Eagle One, the 3/5 favourite rode by jockey Anthony Thomas, was second followed by Emperorofthecats under jockey Paul Francis with Generational completing the frame ridden by Tevin Foster in the field of 12 runners.
“He (Race Car) was not as active as we wanted him to be, but we have been very patient with him. He was out of racing for almost a year and a half. He then came back and another setback followed,” said trainer Spencer Chung.
“So, it has been some time since he has raced successfully. But once you give him time to recover, and the period is right, good horses will always give their best.”
Shane Ellis held Race Car off the pace as the improving three-year-old Emperorofthecats led the field ahead of Eagle One and Baton Rouge, the mount of Nicholas Hibbert.
Ellis continued to bide his time well on the inside rails, navigating the half-mile turn and getting a clear run at the top of the lane at the leaders. In deep stretch, Race Car produced a strong run to outmuscle favourite Eagle One to the wire.
