Power Ranking outpaces rivals in feature race
Power Ranking, under a well-executed ride from current leading jockey Dane Dawkins, easily brushed aside rivals in the $1.05-million O&S Tack Room Trophy feature race at Caymanas Park on Sunday.
Trained by Hall of Famer Richard Azan, Power Ranking outclassed rivals by 2 ½ lengths in the Restricted Stakes contest for native-bred three-year-old and four-year-old (non-winners of four) that included imported three-year-old and upwards (non-winners of three) over six and a half furlongs (1,300m).
Power Ranking broke well off behind the pace as Awesome Rich (Shavon Townsend) jumped to the front and held the lead ahead of Buzz City Light (Anthony Thomas) and Yellowstone (Oshane Nugent) down the backstretch. Power Ranking took his time to get into groove and when he did, the three-year-old bay colt surpassed rivals and took control of the race going into the half-mile (800m) turn.
Although Luksol (Jerome Innis) pointed Power Ranking approaching the distance, the Casual Trick – Escandalos offspring battled on bravely and regained his lead in deep stretch, powering home inside the final furlong (200m) to score by 2 ½ lengths at the wire. Yellowstone came through for second place ahead of Luksol. After splits 23.0 x 46.4 x 1:13.2, the final time was recorded at 1:21.0.
It was the second winner on the 10-race card for both Azan and Dawkins.
Azan saddled four-year-old grey filly Artesia in the top-rated $1.1-m three-year-old and upward Restricted Overnight Allowance (non-winner of an Overnight Allowance lifetime) event over seven and a half furlongs (1,500m). Ridden by Omar Walker, Artesia won going away by 7 ½ lengths in a time of 1:26.1 ahead of Big Big Daddy (Andre Powell) and Storm (Dane Dawkins).
While Dawkins had earlier booted home One Like It in the opening event for trainer Gresford Smith. With those two wins, Dawkins took his tally for the season to 72 winners, seven wins ahead of champion jockey Anthony Thomas (65 wins) in the race for the jockey’s title. Thomas had one winner on the day in Chrisanli in the day’s seventh event for trainer Norman Smith.
Dawkins is hunting his first championship, while Thomas has already won the championship three times.
Racing continues on Saturday.
