Passionate scored an upset victory for champion trainer John O'Brien when the two-year-old filly won the feature SFA Breeders Stakes over 1,200 metres on a sloppy main track, at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, on Saturday. The Diane Scott-owned filly was sent off at odds of 10-1 to continue the dominance of O'Brien.
Punters made the O'Brien-trained debutante Super Bird the 6-5 favourite, ahead of another debutante With Honors also from the stable of O'Brien well supported at 8-5 in the betting. With Honors is the full sister to Bella Riva which won the event last year and is the reigning top juvenile.
When the starter, sent the seven-horse field on their way for the $40,000 purse event, which was open to two-year-olds sired and foaled in T&T, Super Bird was the first to show from Passionate with Ricky Jadoo rousing With Honors into third ahead of Arsalan. These were followed by Game Changer and Lion Guard with Hurricane Breeze which walked out of the stall trailing.
Going to the far turn, Super Bird held a two-length advantage as Passionate began to close on the leader as Arsalan moved up stylishly to join issue as With Honors lost a place and Game Changer began a run to the leaders. Lion Guard, the Nursery Stakes winner, was some 15 lengths off the lead and showing no signs of landing in a blow.
Coming to the corner, Super Bird still held sway but Passionate and champion apprentice Kimal Santo was looming large and challenging the leader. They began to pull away from Arsalan, Game Changer and With Honors, who was running on again.
Inside the final 200m, Passionate put her head in front of Super Bird which was battling back, however, the Blinker and the tongue tie worked the oracle for the filly and she stayed on strongly to win the feature and register her maiden victory.
Super Bird was second with Game Changer staying for third ahead of With Honors in an all O'Brien finish. The O'Brien stable saddled the first four horses past the post.
The time recorded for the trip was 1:14.78.
Training honours for the day fell to champion trainer O'Brien who saddled two winners - Maha Raja and Passionate - on the seven-race card.
The day's leading rider was champion apprentice Santo who rode two winners in Passionate and El Chapo.
Racing continues next week at Santa Rosa Park with the running of the Trinidad Derby, which is the final leg of local racing's Triple Crown. Wise Guy and apprentice Santo are poised to write their names into the annals of local racing history.
ARC DAY 19 RESULTS
R1: WI BRED 3 YO & OVER MAIDENS - 1,200M - $12,700
1*(2)*Quattro*R Jadoo*57*
2*(3)*The Spokesman*R Balgobin*51*
3*(9)*Lord Melody*N Abrego*56.5*
4*(8)*Twitter King*D Khelawan*57*
TIME: 1:14.4 DISTANCES:
$1PARI: (2) $4.70; $1.20; (3) $1.10; (9) $1.20
$1EXACTA: $14.65
TRIFECTA: $260.95
SUPERFECTA: $481.20
WINNER: 3 y.o. DK B colt - Western Classic/Miss Jay (Vanadium)
OWNER: S.I.R. Stables TRAINER: G Mendez
BREEDER: Everglades Farm Limited (Jamaica)
ALSO RAN: 5.Sweet Caroline K Santo 53; 6. Fulfill N Flavenney 53; 7. Dulce Dama R Ali 52.5; 8. Con Te Partiro L C Seecharan 49.5.
NON-RUNNERS: Grande Passion, Money Broker.
R2: MODIFIED BENCHMARK HANDICAP 3 YO & OVER HORSES RATED 50-35 - 1,500M - $12,700
1*(3)*Maha Raja*P Badrie*57.5*
2*(2)*Unsettled*K Santo*57*
3*(6)*Atalanta*T Phillips*55.5*
4*(7)*Trovatore*J Boodramsing*57*
TIME: - DISTANCES: -
$1PARI: (3) $4.60; $3.40; (2) $1.30; (6) $1.70
$1EXACTA: $23.40
TRIFECTA: $172.25
SUPERFECTA:$697.60
WINNER: 6 y.o GR gelding - Traditional/Knightley (Silver Charm)
OWNER: Chevan Maharaj TRAINER: J O'Brien
BREEDER: HAM Stables Ltd (Jamaica)
ALSO RAN: 5. Indy Anna Baby R Jadoo 56.5; 6. Julie N Flavenney 57.5; 7. Zhiliang D Khelawan 57; 8. Nabawi N Abrego 57.
R3: SFA BREEDERS STAKESOPEN TO 2 YO SIRED & FOALED IN T&T - 1,200M - $40,000
1*(3)*Passionate*K Santo*52*
2*(5)*Super Bird*R Ali*52.5*
3*(2)*Game Changer*R Balgobin*49.5*
4*(1)*With Honors*R Jadoo*52*
TIME: 1:14.3 DISTANCES: -
$1PARI: (3) $11.70; 2.20; (5) $1.65; (2) $1.90
EXACTA: $46.65
TRIFECTA: $162.25
SUPERFECTA: $345.20
WINNER: 2 y.o. B filly – Vegas No Show/B's Passion (Precise Sweep)
OWNER: Diane E Scott TRAINER: J O'Brien
BREEDER: Mrs Gillian Warner-Hudson, Mrs Joan Smith & Mrs Diane Scott
ALSO RAN: 5. Arsalan D Khelawan 54.5; 6. Lion Guard S Balroop 55; 7. Hurricane Breeze J Boodramsing 55.
NON-RUNNER: Strauss
R4: MODIFIED BENCHMARK HANDICAP 3 YO AND OVER HORSES RATED 70-55 - 1,350M - $16,600
1*(4)*Desert Dancer*N Abrego*57*
2*(9)*Leonardo Angel*R Jadoo*56.5*
3*(8)*Nuclear Fire*R Balgobin*50*
4*(12)*Marengo*D Khelawan*55.5*
5*(1)*Overanalyzatioin*T Phillips*52*
TIME: 1:22.1 DISTANCES: -
$1PARI: (4) $6.00; $1.65 (9) $1.30; (8) $1.75
$1EXACTA: $18.05
TRIFECTA: $93.35
SUPERFECTA: $316.80
HI-5: $2,623.30
WINNER: 7 y.o. DK B gelding – Charismatic Cat/Storyteller (Exciting Story)
OWNER: Dillon Nanan TRAINER: G Mohammed
BREEDER: Gerry Harding
ALSO RAN: 6. Cool Cat P Badrie 53.5; 7. Reggae Rhythm O Mohammed 55; 8. Pontius Pilate L C Seecharan 49; 9. Integrity N Flavenney 53; 10. Khaleesi K Santo 53.5; 11. Sea Of Gdansk R Ali 56; 12. Mafia Man S Balroop 55.
R5: MODIFIED BENCHMARK HANDICAP 3 YO & OVER HORSES RATED 45-30 1,100M - $12,700
1*(4)*Sexy Eyes*O Mohammed*54.5*
2*(10)*Uno Mas*T Phillips*54.5*
3*(11)*Atta Girl Silvy*A Poon*52.5*
4*(12)*Awesome Angel*P Badrie*56*
TIME: 1:08.0 DISTANCES: 1/2, 2 3/4, 1/2.
$1PARI: (4) $15.30; $6.20; (10)$2.90 (11) $6.05
$1EXACTA: $101.50
TRIFECTA: $1,392.90
SUPERFECTA: $3,097.53
WINNER: 5 y.o. DK B mare – Settle Up/Glorious Moment (Ministar)
OWNER: Shamjeet Singh Mr TRAINER: H Singh
BREEDER: D Bennett, R Bernard & R Kanta Persad
ALSO RAN: 5. Marconi N Samaroo 57; 6. Lady Bird K Santo 52; 7. Pure Strike D Blackman 56; 8. Lady Hamilton D Khelawan 56; 9. Crown Dynasty R oHernandez 56; 10. Princess Charlotte L C Seecharan 52; 11. Red Casino R Balgobin 52.5.
NON-RUNNERs: Spanish Eyes, Man Of Tomorrow.
R6: MODIFIED BENCHMARK HANDICAP 3 YO AND OVER HORSES RATED 35-0 1,350M - $12,700
1*(6)*Leave Me Alone*R Ali*58*
2*(8)*Fortune Teller*S Balroop*57*
3*(2)*Joseph*R Balgobin*54.5*
4*(4)*Princess Alex*K Santo*53.5*
TIME: 1:23.4 DISTANCES: 3, 3 3/4,2.
$1PARI: (6) $1.65; $2.00 (8) $3.05; (2) $4.85
$1EXACTA: $21.00
TRIFECTA: $141.45
SUPERFECTA: $622.90
WINNER: 3 yo CH filly - Saint Vigeur/Panorama (Miracle Man)
OWNER: Estate Of Rolf Bartolo TRAINER: H Gobin
BREEDER: Rolf Bartolo
ALSO RAN: 5.Proud Vanessa R iHernandez 54; 6. Golazo R oHernandez 55.5; 7. The Big Saint N Abrego 57.5; 8. Team Spirit D Khelawan 54.5.
R7: MODIFIED BENCHMARK HANDICAP 3 YO AND OVER HORSES RATED 25-0 1,200M - $13,200
1*(12)*El Chapo*K Santo*52.5*
2*(2)*Pure Pleasure*S Balroop*56.5*
3*(6)*Verses*O Mohammed*55*
4*(7)*Trusty Rose*T Phillips*53*
5*(11)*Little John*B Boodramsing*50.5*
TIME: 1:15.4 DISTANCES: 3, 1/2, 1 1/2, 2 1/4.
$1PARI: (12) $6.55; $1.85 (2) $1.40; (6) $1.65
EXACTA: $15.00
TRIFECTA: $24.05
SUPERFECTA: $103.40
WINNER: 6 y.o B gelding - Louisvilleluminary/Firestorm (Freshly Squeezed)
OWNER: Bhagiratie Sookan TRAINER: R Ramroop
BREEDER: Ainsley A Mark
ALSO RAN: 6. Red Knuckles J Boodramsing 56; 7. Man On Fire R oHernandez 55.5; 8. D Lighting Strike N Flavenney 54.5; 9. I'Missinghighbury N Abrego 57; 10. Gold N'Brown A Poon 51.5; 11. Goldforfree R Jadoo 57.
NON-RUNNER: Amani.