CLASSY BOY PETE is eased close home by Trevor Simpson while landing yesterday's eighth event, for Open Allowance horses, over 1300 metres at Caymanas Park. -Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

Ainsley Walters, Freelance Writer

TRAINER PHILIP Feanny yesterday presented 2-1 chance CLASSY BOY PETE in unbeatable fashion to land the 1300-metre eighth race for Open Allowance horses, finishing clear of the late-closing ALPHA LUPA.

CLASSY BOY PETE, who is often slowly into stride, left post position seven sharply, under a bustling ride from title-chasing jockey Trevor Simpson, to stalk the pace being set by DIGI N' JIGGY and NASATOL followed by CALABASH BAY being pushed to keep up with the speedsters.

With the leaders forming a wall down the backstretch, CLASSY BOY PETE raced sixth while MEDICAL REPORT came around from his outside draw to relegate CALABASH BAY, who got burnt on the lead.

However, Simpson's mount was so sharp that approaching the home turn he was already in full flight, going past CALABASH BAY and in chase of the leaders.

NASATOL and MEDICAL REPORT attacked DIGI N' JIGGY off the turn, but both ran wide as CLASSY BOY PETE straightened fourth in mid-track and full of running.

Asked to quicken by Simpson, the four-year-old gelding responded in a flash to split DIGI N' JIGGY and NASATOL with MEDICAL REPORT running strongly on the outside.

MEDICAL REPORT briefly appeared to be coming forward with a strong run but was no match for CLASSY BOY PETE, who lengthened his strides and pulled away with a furlong to run, winning by just over a length.

Owned by Peter A. Lawson, CLASSY BOY PETE was sharpened at exercise by Feanny, galloping back-to-back three-furlong bullet works at exercise in recent weeks to inject speed.

Simpson's second winner of the afternoon, CLASSY BOY PETE, pushed the five-time champion jockey to 31 wins after earlier scoring aboard ASKAWOMAN in the fourth event at 1200 metres.

Leading rider Paul Francis continued to live dangerously as he moved to 32 winners after landing the first event aboard JACK BE GOOD, prevailing in a driving finish to beat 7-1 outsider FORMULA ONE by a neck.

Double for J. Simpson

Jason Simpson also rode a double on the nine-race card, booting home PETITE DIVA in the fifth and MISS PAIGE in the seventh.

PAT-ANN ROSE, who went off at 5-1, was the toughest horse to spot on the programme, resulting in Pick-9 bettors being stumped from the second race as the overwhelming favourite, ROYAL FLAME, was scratched and the second choice, ALL THE TIME, could only muster third.

However, there were three consolation tickets with eight of nine winners, each picking up $44,077. The Super-Six was caught with 50 winning combinations each worth $22,033.

Saturday's meet will have a big Hi-Five carryover of $114,858.90 as punters failed to crack the ninth event, which had 10-1 shot EXOTIC GLOW chasing home the 9-5 favourite RED ROCK with MASS JOE third at 16-1.

The day's trophy race, Race Six of CTL Claiming Series I, the third event over 1820 metres, was won by NEUTRALIZER, ridden by apprentice Oral Bennett for trainer Steadman Curtis.