By Orville Clarke, Freelance WriterTHE PICK-9, not surprisingly, proved elusive at Caymanas Park on Saturday, but what was surprising is that the Super-6 silenced the crowd as well.
Ninety per cent of Pick-9 bettors started on the wrong foot when BLITZKRIEG upset calculations to the tune of 21-1 in the third race. Thereafter, only a few were left in the game and with JETLYN'S DRAMA at 6-1 and SEEINGISBELIEVING at 9-1 in the closing race killing hopes entirely, the Pick-9 will offer a carryover of $500,000 for tomorrow's meet.
Still, three punters with eight of nine winners received $30,925.00 each, a tidy sum in the circumstances.
Super-6 players did not have BLITZKRIEG to contend with, but despite this none was able to spot all six winners. As many as 142 with five of six winners each bagged $1,000. The carryover - $425,969.55.
From the look of things, both exotic bets are not expected to survive tomorrow's moderately supported midweek programme comprising 10 not difficult-to-unravel races.
TRIPLE FOR SIMPSON
Champion jockey Trevor Simpson pushed his season's tally to 80 after booting home three winners on the card in SIREN, LIL' COUNTRY BOY and LADY SHAKEERA at 9-2 on the well-supported Owners' Association Day programme.
Wayne DaCosta's crack imported sprinter LIL'COUNTRY BOY duly recorded his sixth consecutive win when making virtually all in the round five race for the Laurence Heffes Plaque, winning on his first outing in the top class.
LIL' COUNTRY BOY led home the consistent RAKKADASH by 1 1/2 lengths and also humbled the reigning 'Horse of the Year' I'MSATISFIED who finished third under topweight of 59.0kg.
Simpson said after the race that LIL' COUNTRY BOY is one of the fastest horses he has ever ridden locally, which is not surprising seeing that the American bred 3-y-o colt scorched the track in splits of 22.2 and 45.3 for the half mile, stopping the clock at 59.1.
The three-time champion jockey also said he won with a bit in hand and before long LIL' COUNTRY BOY should establish himself as the top sprinter in the country.
Race seven, the inaugural running of the Rhoel Rhoden Memorial Cup for native bred maiden two-year-olds, introduced yet another promising talented juvenile in LATONIA, who through running green in the early stages, found her legs early in the straight to gobble up the leader YAHABIBI in a matter of strides.
IN-FORM TRAINER
Ridden by former champion Shane Ellis, the bay filly from the stables of in-form trainer Anthony "Baba" Nunes moved away to win by 5 1/2 lengths from the late closing STEROFABULOUS and her progress will be watched keenly in the months ahead.
REAR ADMIRAL won the day's feature for the Jamaica Racehorse Owners' Association Trophy by a hair's breath from long-time leader JOHNNY'S KING who after giving way approaching the final bend, staged a tremendous last furlong rally under top apprentice Paul Francis, which failed by only a nose.
Many felt that REAR ADMIRAL made heavy weather of the task owing to an indifferent ride from the sparingly used jockey Neville "Briggy" Stephenson, who beat down his horse off a true line to the rail a furlong out and really looked saddle rusty.
Stephenson's opportunities have been limited this year, but he is a much better jockey than the man we saw aboard REAR ADMIRAL. I guess an ugly win is always better than losing.
Significantly, this was Stephenson's third winning ride of the year, following GUNG TONG WAH and COMMANDMENT in mid-summer. Prior to winning those races, he did a short stint in the United States.
