By Orville Clarke, Gleaner WriterTHE MUSHROOMING Pick-9 again proved elusive at Caymanas Park on Saturday and the carryover to tomorrow's race meet stands at a whopping $1.55 million.
Indeed, had the Pick-9 not had to compete with a Super-6 winfall of $303,000 on Saturday, the carryover would have been greater.
Tomorrow, however, no such situation exists. With heavy Pick-9 wagering expected, a pay-out of close to $2 million looks a real possibility.
Although the Pick-9 races managed to escape the 99-1 outsider MEDICAL ACCOUNT in the second race, it was truly a Herculean task to find nine consecutive winners from the 3rd to the 11th races on such a competitive programme.
Still, there were some obvious Pick-9 winners in firm favourites HEARTOFAMAVERICK (5th race), stable-companion LIL' COUNTRY BOY in the 7th race for the Merry Deal Cup, THE SEVENTH WAVE in the 8th (all ridden by champion jockey Trevor Simpson) and of course, I'MSATISFIED who was a 6-5 second favourite in the eventful 10th race for the She's On Wheel's Trophy.
On the flip side, UNLEADED at 5-1 derailed a significant number of Pick-9 players in the sixth, as did MR. MICAWBER, also at 5-1, in the night-pan and IRISH STAR at 7-2 in the fourth.
DEAD HEAT
I'MSATISFIED, running on lasix for the first time, was forced to pull out all the stops to dead heat for first with lesser fancied stable-companion SPIRIT OF JAMAICA in the She's On Wheels Trophy over 1100 metres for top class horses.
Over-confidently ridden by leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths, the reigning "Horse of the Year' was not only slowly into stride but lost ground at the home turn when forced to come four wide into the straight.
Taking dead aim at the leaders approaching the distance, he appeared to be overhauling SPIRIT OF JAMAICA real fast in the last 100 metres, but Griffiths eased up a bit close home enabling SPIRIT OF JAMAICA to gain the dead heat in the final nod.
However, following a Stewards' Inquiry, SPIRIT OF JAMAICA was disqualified and placed fourth for causing interference to stable-companion RAKKADASH and also the favourite AWESOME POWER when taking over the lead approaching the furlong pole, leaving I'MSATISFIED as sole winner.
Many turfites questioned the dead heat as it appeared to the naked eye that I'MSATISFIED on the outside got up in the nick of time. And the posting of the official photo finish picture on the monitors showing both horses on the line together did not convince those who held the view that I'MSATISFIED had won.
One popular turfite in the Jockey Club Lounge summed up the general feeling of punters when he declared:
"If this is a dead heat then I need to get my eyes examined in Miami".
