Onetokeep in mind for Derby

With the country celebrating its 50th anniversary of Independence, and 36th year of Republicanism, the horse which wins today’s final jewel of local racing’s triple crown—the CNG Derby is assured of a place in history. On a day when the National Gas Company (NGC) has fuelled some $500,00 into the race day, today’s ten-race card is guaranteed one of the largest crowds at the centralised facility at Santa Rosa Park. The Derby favourite is the Mary Camacho-owned Onetokeep and should the John O’Brien-trained gelding win this event, it will go past the million-dollar earnings and give Camacho her first success in the blue riband event.

 

 

The gelding will lock horns with Free Passage, Big Thing and The Big Squeeze and after watching him gallop last week, I am convinced that he has the ammunition to win the $300,000 first prize for the in-form jockey Brian Harding. Onetokeep could not be more impressive than when winning the inaugural running of the Betting Levy Board (BLB) Trinidad and Tobago Breeders Classic over 1,800 metres on the main track, and once he reproduces that form, this would be a one-horse Derby. Over the past six weeks, the Derick Mosca-trained Free Passage has won many friends. This gelding was most impressive when winning over 1,750 metres on his first attempt last time out. He has thrived and had a bullet workout last week when he sped over 1,000 metres in 1:00 minute flat.  

 

 

He is coming right at the correct time but I think he should have had one more race under his belt to win this classic. However, he is a classy thoroughbred and is four for four on the main track and will go well for Lionel Ramos. Rohit Dube saddles Big Thing with Cornelio Valasquez aboard. He was not right for the Midsummer Classic but he is right back to his best for this prestigious event. He has been galloping well and will make a bold bid today. The only other entrant which merits serious consideration is the Michael Carew (Jnr)-trained The Big Squeeze, winner of the Gleneagle Stakes. This horse has shown she can stay but prompting pace will not help her cause. From my vantage point, the home-bred Onetokeep will win, giving Harding his first Derby winner at the centralised facility. Post time for the first event today is 11.30 am.

 

 

NGC DAY AT THE RACES CARD

 

RACE 1:11.30AM: CLEAN AND GREEN W.I. BRED 2 Y.O MAIDENS -1,100 Metres - $43,000

--- 1 Salome D Bennett/R Jadoo 52.5 Scratched

--- 2 Always A Princess J O’Brien/B Boodramsing 52.5 Galloping superbly

--5 3 Always Ready H Chadee/N Patrick 55 Improving

--2 4 Afterthebooks D Bennett/B Harding 54.5 The one to beat

--- 5 Straight One J Mosca/D Butcher 54.5 Needs time

--- 6 Lady Felisha J O’Brien/W Galviz 55 Highly regarded

--- 7 She’s A Cutie H Chadee/A Whitehall 55 Shown speed

--- 8 Bold Destiny M Carew Jnr/S Ellis 52.5 Scratched

--4 9 Readyforstanley S Khan/R Ali 52.5 Will go close

 

  

RACE 2: 12.08PM - FULL DISTANCE 3 Y.O. & OVER HORSES RATED 55-35 -1,350 Metres -$36,400

551 1 Private Marshall H Gobin/A Maragh 56.5 Repeat

046 2 Agra M Maharaj/Y Cristalino 55 Speedy

932 3 Destiny Train C Roberts/R Hasranah 54.5 Can surprise

544 4 Blame It On Me J O’Brien/B Boodramsing 54.5 Will go close

118 5 Angelica Jane H Chadee/A Whitehall 54.5 Running on

986 6 Naughty N Nice D Ojar/C Velasquez 54.5 Speedy

316 7 Prince Shival S Ferreira/K Razack 52.5 In and out

787 8 Lady Sage R A Dube/L Lopez 56.5 Chance

--1 9 Ramblin’ Rose G Mendez/R Jadoo 54.5 The winner

974 10 Wonderful Whirl JW-Samaroo/J Espinoza 54.5 Outsider

320 11 Finch R A Dube/K Khelawan 50 In tough

230 12 Gold Bead L Alexis/S Ellis 55.5 Respected

 

 

RACE 3: 12.47PM  -EASY CONVERSION3 Y.O & OVER HORSES RATED 70-50 -1,600 Metres (TURF) - $43,000

234 1 D’ Last Flight M Maharaj/N Flavenney 51.5 Speedy

118 2 Oro De Cordoba J O’Brien/R Hasranah 54 In great heart

025 3 Diplomatic Cat J O’Brien/B Harding 54.5 Chance

113 4 Super Sonic J Lyder/S Ellis 54 Good sort

447 5 Sweetie Jan H Gobin/N Abrego 50 In tough

465 6 Cover You Donkey M Carew Jnr/K Razack 46.5 Outside shot

742 7 Caro’s Legacy K De Silva Jr/W Galviz 51.5 Galloping well

756 8 Undulation T Thomas/S Rodrigo 56.5 Respected

114 9 U Crazy Diamond D Mosca/L Ramos 54 Big shout

621 10 No Just Cause G Mohammed/R Ali 53.5 Repeat

678 11 Grand Slam M Carew Jnr/K Balgobin 51.5 Not here

114 12 Island Star J O’Brien/B Boodramsing 48.5Up in grade

150 13 The Red Skull G Mendez/A Maragh 55.5 Running on

497 14 Edmundo L Alexis/R Hernandez 50.5 Scratched 

716 15 Alexander H Chadee/A Whitehall 52 Can go close

333 16 Away Johannesburg Dr R Shim/B Boodramsing 54 Chance

943 17 Becquerel R A Dube/C Velasquez 55.5 Running on

 

 

RACE 4: 1.27PM - SAFE & SOUND T&T BRED 3 Y.O. & OVER HORSES RATED 30-0 -1,100 Metres (TURF) - $30,000

233 1 The Conqueror M Maharaj/S Samuel 55.5 Can take this

276 2 Dazzling Diamond L Alexis/N Patrick 51.5 In and out

953 3 Imperial Ruler G Mendez/W Galviz 54.5 Chance

776 4 Reiko King E Miller/D Gopie 56.5 Nothing yet

744 5 In Joey’s Honour M Carew Jnr/S Ellis 54.5 Respected

314 6 On My Own R A Dube/A Maragh 53 Can surprise

697 7 Love In Tokyo Dr A Griffith/K Razack 50.5 In tough

815 8 Third Time Lucky R A Dube/A Maragh 53 In good heart

999 9 Goldmine C Roberts/S Rodrigo 52 No form

007 10 Windy Lass P DeFreitas/D Gaff 48.5 Lost way

422 11 Eyes Of The Wolf R A Dube/D Khelawan 54 Good chance

361 12 Zipitup W Debysingh/R Jadoo 56.5 Repeat

556 13 Sweet Parang Music Dr A Griffith/L Lopez 49.5 Outsider

 

 

RACE 5: 2.05PM - GAS SWITCH W.I. BRED 3 Y.O & OVER HORSES RATED 40-0 - 1,350 Metres - $32,000

186 1 Prado Wells E Miller/S Rodrigo 56.5 Chance

454 2 Naturelly Classy L Alexis/R Hernandez 55 Ready

937 3 Regional Princess C Roberts/D Gopie 49.5 Speedy

908 4 Gone West C Roberts/V Charles 49.5 Nothing

697 5 Nature’s Reality Dr A Griffith/F Manrrique 56.5 Running on

422 6 Seal The Deal R Stephen/R Perez 56 Must go close

725 7 Fire N’ Faith R A Dube/A Maragh 53.5 Big shout

351 8 Thisisit J O’Brien/B Harding 56.5 Repeat

443 9 Stroke Of Love J O’Brien/W Galviz 54 In tough

383 10 Game Adzalia E Miller/K Razack 52.5 Must improve

050 11 Pretty Woman L Alexis/J Arneaud 54 Forget

381 12 Star Diamond F DeFreitas/A Whitehall 55 Repeat

 

 

RACE 6: 2.45PM - LOW MAINTENANCE 3 Y.O & OVER HORSES RATED 45-0--1,100 Metres (TURF) -$33,000

057 1 Bonnie J O’Brien/K Khelawan 51.5 Speedy

869 2 Princess Paige J Lyder/Y Cristalino 51.5 Not much

511 3 Lady Marisa D Mosca/L Ramos 56 Hattrick-seeker

228 4 Aztec Gold G Emmanuel/D Khelawan 56.5 Staying on

001 5 Nothing Left M Maharaj/K Balgobin 56 Repeat

100 6 Mary’s Girl Chile T Thomas/S Jadoo 55.5 Scratched

979 7 Danzig’s Day M Maharaj/D Butcher 49.5 Forget

053 8 D Scale Police J O’Brien/B Harding 54.5 Scratched

644 9 Midnight Express J Lyder/J Arneaud 55 Can surprise

845 10 Who Is The Problem H Singh/S Chadee 54.5 Scratched

523 11 Enigmatic G Mohammed/R Ali 55.5 Needs further

019 12 Love Over Gold M Carew Jnr/S Ellis 55 Outsider

740 13 Unbridled Way L Alexis/R Hernandez 55 Ready

886 14 Dring Brinks Dr A Griffith/J Arneaud 56.5 Scratched

774 15 Bananachips J O’Brien/S Rodrigo 56.5 Can take this

367 16 The Problem Solver J Mosca/N Patrick 54.5 Scratched

878 17 First Emperor D Mosca/Y Cristalino 55 Drops in class

212 18 Flight On Time M Maharaj/F Manrrique 56.5 One to catch

675 19 Schylers Gold Dr A Griffith/R Jadoo 52 Going well

 

 

RACE 7: 3.25PM -HIGH PROPULSION DIAMOND STAKES (GR 11) -1,350 Metres -$150,000

218 1 Ignition Coil J O’Brien/B Boodramsing 53.5 Will be around

544 2 El Bandido De Oro H Chadee/R Jadoo 53.5 No chance

142 3 Signal Alert G Mendez/S Ellis 56.5 Can go close

142 4 Montejo JW-Samaroo/J Espinoza 56.5 Running on

232 5 Readbetweendlines G Mendez/C Velasquez 56.5 Respected

123 6 Smart American H Chadee/A Whitehall 53.5 Wrong race

113 7 Bruceontheloose J O’Brien/N Abrego 56.5 Will go close

571 8 Boogie Blues G Mendez/W Galviz 56.5 Repeat

216 9 King Whistler J O’Brien/K Khelawan 51.5 In tough

 

 

RACE 8: 4.05PM -HIGHER OCTANE 3 Y.O & OVER HORSES RATED 85-65 - 1,350 Metres -$48,500

216 1 Gone For Six J O’Brien/D Khelawan 52.5 Outside shot

810 2 Quick City E Miller/R Ali 53.5 In good form

356 3 Officer Ike L Alexis/R Perez 52 Don't trust

859 4 Handsome Warrior M Glasgow/K Jadoo 51.5 No form

001 5 Mostly Watched H Chadee/A Whitehall 49.5 Repeat

349 6 Odin J O’Brien/B Boodramsing 53 Speedy

735 7 Toro Rosso JW-Samaroo/J Espinoza 55.5 In and out

522 8 Lawbreaker J O’Brien/C Velasquez 56.5 Must go close

243 9 Slippery Sam D Mosca/L Ramos 56.5 Chance

234 10 Curfew Breaker D Bennett/R Jadoo 54.5 Not here

461 11 Nakita C Roberts/K Khelawan 53.5 Can surpise

757 12 Burst Of Energy D Mosca/R Hasranah 49.5 No form

244 13 Loan Shark D Bennett/B Harding 54.5 Ready

063 14 Raging Thunder C Roberts/N Patrick 50 Big chance

 

 

RACE 9: 4.45PM - THE CNG TRINIDAD DERBY(GR 1) - 2,000 Metres - $500,000

952 1 Bandwagon J O’Brien/B Boodramsing 56.5 Outsider

311 2 Onetokeep J O’Brien/B Harding 56.5 The winner

416 3 Director Dream D Mosca/R Perez 56.5 Can surprise

015 4 Taste Of Texas G Mendez/W Galviz 56.5 Ready

410 5 D’Coachman M Carew Jnr/A Whitehall 56.5 No chance

133 6 Big Thing R A Dube/C Velasquez 56.5 Running on

654 7 Pistons And Rings J O’Brien/N Abrego 56.5 Don't trust

741 8 One Fortheroad D Mosca/R Jadoo 56.5 Will go well

291 9 Raise Your Glass G Mendez/R Ali 56.5 Wrong race

121 10 The Big Squeeze M Carew Jnr/S Ellis 54.5 Staying on

111 11 Free Passage D Mosca/L Ramos 56.5 Second best

441 12 Zahawi JW-Samaroo/J Espinoza 56.5 In tough

154 13 Nettoyer H Gobin/A Maragh 56.5 Don't trust

 

 

RACE 10: 5.25PM - DRIVING ECONOMY W.I. BRED 3 Y.O MAIDENS  -1,200 Metres -$43,000

-34 1 Red Howler C Roberts/D Khelawan 54 Can surprise

475 2 My Ari D Mosca/L Ramos 54.5 Chance

552 3 Peppermint J O’Brien/B Boodramsing 51.5 Respected

--- 4 Country King H Singh/S Chadee 54 Scratches

00D 5 Little Otis M Maharaj/S Samuel 49 No form

722 6 Precious Lily D Mosca/S Rodrigo 52.5 Will be around

--6 7 Caipirinha M Glasgow/K Jadoo 52 In tough

000 8 Spy Chief H Chadee/A Whitehall 46.5 Scratched

--- 9 The Right Time T Thomas/R Ali 56.5 Newcomer

727 10 Asia JW-Samaroo/J Espinoza 50 One to beat

459 11 Dial A Prayer C Prime/A Maragh 51.5 Outside shot

858 12 The New One J Mosca/D Butcher 47 Done little

--- 13 Buss The Mark C Roberts/V Charles 52 Debut

 

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  Republic Selections

 

Kelvin 'N' 

Starbet: (R7) Readbetweendlines 

R1: Afterthebrook, Readyfor stanley, Always A Princess

R2: Ramblin Rose, BlameIt On Me, Private Marshall, Gold Bead

R3: Diplomatic Cat, Oro De Cordoba, Undulation, The Red Skull

R4: The Conqueror, In Joey's Honour, Eyes of The Wolf, Third Time Lucky, Zipitup

R5: Thisisit, Naturelly Classy, Seal The Deal, Fire N Faith

R6: Bananachips, Flight On Time, First Emperor, Nothing Left, Schyller's Gold

R7: Readbetweendlines, Bruceontheloose, Signal Alert, Boogie Blues

R8: Raging Thunder, Lawbreaker, Nominee, Officer Ike, Slippery Sam

R9: Onetokeep, Free Passage, Big Thing, The Big Squeeze

R10: Asia, Peppermint, Precious Lily,Red Howler, The New One

 

 

Eddie ‘A’

Starbet: (R4) Imperial Ruler 

R1: Afterthebooks, She's A Cutie, Lady Felisha.

R2: Destiny Train, Gold Bead, Private Marshall.

R3: No Just Cause, Diplomatic Cat, Becquerel.

R4: Imperial Ruler, The Conqueror, In Joey's Honour, On My Own.

R5: Seal The Deal, Fire N' Faith, Thisisit.

R6: Flight On Time, Enigmatic, Schylers Gold, Lady Marisa.

R7: Bruceontheloose, Signal Alert, Montejo.

R8: Slippery Sam, Lawbreaker, Nominee, Loan Shark.

R9: Onetokeep, The Big Squeeze, Big Thing.

R10: My Ari, Asia, Precious Lilly, Peppermint.

 

 

Dancing Brave

Starbet: (R10) Peppermint 

R1: Straight One, She’s a Cutie, Lady Felisha, ReadyforStanley

R2: Destiny Train, Blame it on me, Naughty N Nice, Prince Shival

R3: Diplomatic Cat, Sweetie Jan, Cover you Donkey, U Crazy Diamond

R4: The Conqueror, Dazzling Diamond, Love in Tokyo, Gold Mine, Zipitup

R5: Stroke of Love, Gone West, Prados Wells, Pretty Woman

R6: Enigmatic, Dring Brinks, Danzig’s Day, Nothing Left, Schylers Gold

R7: Signal Alert, Bruceontheloose, Ignition Coil, Readbetweendlines

R8: Slippery Sam, Mostly Watched, Handsome Warrior, Nakita, Burst of Energy

R9: The Big Squeeze, Onetokeep, Free Passage, Bandwagon

R10: Peppermint, The Right Time, Red Howler, Dial a Prayer, Spy Chief

 

 

The Mechanic 

Starbet: (R7) Signal Alert 

R1: Bold Destiny, Always a Princess, Afterthebooks, Lady Felisha

R2: Ramblin Rose, Destiny Train, Private Marshall, Blame it On Me

R3: The Red Skull, Diplomatic Cat, Caro’s Legacy, Oro de Cordoba

R4: Zipitup, Imperial Ruler, Eyes of the Wolf, On my Own, Third Time Lucky

R5: Thisisit, Seal the Deal, Stroke of Love, Game Adzalia

R6: Lady Marisa, Flight on Time, Enigmatic, Nothing Left, Bananachips

R7: Signal Alert, Bruceontheloose, Readbetweendlines, Ignition Coil 

R8: Lawbreaker, Torro Rosso, Raging Thunder, Nakita, Gone for Six

R9: Free Passage, The Big Squeeze, Onetokeep, Big Thing

R10: My Ari, Peppermint, Precious Lilly, Red Howler, Dial a Prayer

 

 

The Watcher 

Starbet: (R6) Banana Chips 

R1: Always a Princess, Afterthebooks, She’s A Cutie, Ready For Stanley 

R2: Ramblin Rose, Wonderful Whirl, Blame it On Me, Finch

R3: The Red Skull, Undulation, Caro’s Legacy, Crazy Diamond 

R4: Imperial Ruler, Zipitup, Dazzling Diamond, In Joey’s Honour, Third Time Lucky

R5: Game Adzalia, Thisisit, Nature’s Reality, Regional Princess 

R6: Bananachips, Nothing Left, Lady Marisa, Enigmatic, Schyler’s Gold

R7: Readbetweenthelines, Boogie Blues, Ignition Coil, Signal Alert, Bruceontheloose

R8: Raging Thunder, Mostly Watched, Nominee, Officer Ike, Burst of Energy

R9: Onetokeep, Free Passage, Director Dream, Zahawi 

R10: The New One, Asia, My Ari, Peppermint