Dontae to get up in time
The undefeated and improving filly A.P.I. (known as Appleton, Pepsi and Ice) will place her record of three wins on the line when she faces nine rivals in a Restricted Stakes race over seven and a half furlongs (1,500m) in what is the highlight event on the 10-race card at Caymanas Park today.
It is not an outrageously strong field but its composition makes it highly competitive, with A.P.I. being the lone runner in the mix of six fillies and four colts who have won three races to date — two of which were scored over the five-furlong (1,000m) straight course and the other going six and a half furlongs (1,300m). Having brushed aside stable companion Runallday and Loose Cannon on last, one can now evaluate the direction in which the late-developing Blue Pepsi Lodge filly out of the Royal Minister mare, Regina Royale is heading.
The race has a scheduled time of 4:25 pm, with first at 11:50 am.
Trained by Anthony Nunes for owner Stephan Narinesingh, A.P.I. will have three of her stablemates in Dontae, Musketoon and Blue Tradition to compete aganist. But it does not stop there as there are other tough opponents in Rambunctious Links, Awesome Sauce, Lightning Lily, Sarah Lee, and Simply Outrageous, along with the late-running Night Light to contend with.
A.P.I., therefore, may need a little more than Wesley Henry to keep the winning momentum sparkle ignited. Lightning Lily, disappointing up to this point in her career, is now fitter, and with a change of equipment and rider could run well enough to come into her own with a smart performance.
Trainer Philip Feanny has taken the blinkers off Lightning Lily and put on the visor, while calling Paul Francis to replace Javaniel Patterson in the saddle.
Though one-paced, Sarah Lee showed on last that she is fit enough to be competitive over the shorter distance.
The consistent Simply Outrageous, trained by Dwight Chen, looks an even better prospect, although on last her jockey looked a little uncertain of what strategy to adapt behind Kalamata, in which Simply Outrageous faded badly. Nonetheless, the leading apprentice Anthony Thomas will remain in the saddle.
The horse they will have trouble with is Dontae. The Fearless Vision colt ran a good race on last when finishing, by over a length, third to Kalamata and Western Warrior over nine furlongs and 25 yards (1,820m) in a decent 1:56.1 minutes. With that run, Dontae‘s final surge in deep stretch might be too much for rivals to withstand in the end.
One of the most interesting races on the card is the opening event, a maiden special weight event for two-year-olds going five and a half furlongs (1,100m). Here a promising field of seven starters has been declared, with My Beirut, Christilano and Apollo Bay appearing to be the more advanced of the experienced runners. Nonetheless, debutant Ricky Ricardo and El Profesor, two colts with some sparkle in the legs, could run well.
Ones To Watch
Race 1 My Beirut, Ricky Ricardo, Christilano
Race 2 El Saldado, Above The Radar, Chief Secretariat
Race 3 Senor Kwanzi, Blood Song, Peyton’s Delight
Race 4 Elvira, Burning Exit, Awesome Cat
Race 5 Brooklyn, Kanaloa, Executive Charm
Race 6 Yoga, Jesse’s Favourite, Cruising Motion
Race 7 Silver Rocket, Milagro, KD Flyer
Race 8 Supreme Magic, Batidor De Mundo, Moneyneversleep
Race 9 Dontae, Lightning Lily, Rambunctious Links
Race 10 Princess Caula, Prince Kamali, Party Princess