Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

Triple Crown winner and beaten Superstakes favourite ALSAFRA left the island for Puerto Rico on Monday night to represent Jamaica in the US$300,000 Caribbean Classic at the Hipodromo Camarero racetrack (formerly El Commandante) on Sunday, December 7.

Owned by Sherman Clachar and Norman Gordon and trained by Fitznahum Williams, ALSAFRA was accompanied on the flight by the Jamaica Racing Commission senior veterinarian, Dr St Aubyn Bartlett, and Nicholas Edwards, former assistant trainer to Dwight Chen, in the absence of trainer Williams, who up to Monday had not received a visa from the United States Embassy.

According to Gordon, Williams received his visa yesterday and is due to leave for Puerto Rico today.

Gordon further disclosed that the groom of ALSAFRA, Arthur Spencer, will not be travelling to Puerto Rico, as he did not have a passport.

Instead, Anthony McLeod, the groom of 2006 Contraternity winner MIRACLE MAN, left the island yesterday as a stand-in for Spencer.

According to reports, ALSAFRA travelled well and has been placed in quarantine for seven days. She will commence light training for the race early next week.