There were 110 starters declared on the official race programme for Saturday, August 31, 2013. For the first time in many, many race days, the promoters recorded no non-starters for whatever reasons there might be. Two horses started but did not finish their respective races. There was also a noticeable attempt by the promoter to start the 11 listed races on time. They were fairly successful in this attempt, with the only snarl occurring before the start of the tenth and feature race when one of the tractors used to rake the track broke down. This is certainly the way to go; please continue.

FATE OF THE FOREIGNERS

There were contrasting results for foreign-bred horses in the first two races on the programme on Saturday. No Nonsense Man, trained by Anthony Nunes, and ridden by Shane Ellis, was racing for the first against five local-bred horses, while Exclusive Prince, trained by Wayne DaCosta and ridden by Dick Cardenas, was the prohibitive favourite and only foreigner in the field of seven. No Nonsense Man obliged after a come-from-behind run but Exclusive Prince found the pace-setting Rastaraven difficult to deal with, finishing a disappointing third.

HORSES CLAIMED ON SATURDAY AUGUST 31

Five claims took place on last Saturday’s 11-race programme at Caymanas Park.

Sheza Bosslady was claimed by trainer Michael Beecham for owner Keisha Thomas for $450,000 from the third race.

Notus was claimed by trainer Patrick Fong for owner Leon Rambaran for $180,000; Pretty Ting was claimed by trainer Randolph Scott for owner Sylvester Subaran for $180,000; Live Water was claimed by Donovan Plummer acting as both owner and trainer for $180,000 from the fourth race.

Vana Prospect was claimed by Dale Murphy acting as both owner and trainer for $180,000 from the final event.

STRONG MANDATE WINS HOPEFUL STAKES AT SARATOGA

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) – Strong Mandate, ridden by Jose Ortiz, moved to the lead at mid-stretch and drew away to an eight-length victory in the US$300,000 Hopeful Stakes for two-year-olds on Monday at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by D Wayne Lukas, who celebrated his 78th birthday with the victory worth US$180,000 to owners Robert Baker and William Mack, Strong Mandate ran seven furlongs over a muddy track in 1:23.55. Second was Casiquapo with Lunarwarfare, third.