RACING NEWS — SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 2023
JAMALJAMES RETURNS WITH A BANG
Eight-year-old chestnut gelding JamalJames returned from a four-month break and easily won a three-year-old and upwards Optional Claiming ($250,000-$200,000) spread that included native-bred six-year-olds and upwards (non-winners of three) and imported six-year-olds and upwards (non-winners of two) over 5½ furlongs (1,100m).
Trained by Gregory Forsyth and ridden by Tevin Foster, JamalJames raced in fifth place after exiting his starting barrier and had to chase rivals into the half-mile (800m) turn, as Thepowersthatbe (Abigail Able) led Nina Dorado (Shane Richardson), Heart Of A Lion (Reyan Lewis), and Silverstine (Omar Walker).
JamalJames surrounded horses approaching the distance to pull along Thepowersthatbe coming off the final bend. JamalJames then hit the front in deep stretch and went on to win by 8 ¾ lengths at the wire in a time of 1:10.4 (23.3 x 48.0). Finishing in second place was Uncle Wal (Romario Spencer), and ending in third was Undecided (Marshall Porter). Forsyth was saddling his first winner for the season from his first start.
SHERWOOD FOREST
Trainer Louis Richards saddled his first winner from his first start this season after his charge Sherwood Forest, running for the first time, destroyed rivals in a Maiden Condition event for native-bred five-year-olds and upwards coming down the chute of five-furlong (1000m).
Ridden by Shavon Townsend, Sherwood Forest (Forest Danger – May Flower) disputed the early lead along with Crushing Power (Dane Dawkins), Mardele (Roger Hewitt), and Reminiscn Bolo (Matthew Bennett). Coming across the dummy rails, Sherwood Forest and Reminiscn Bolo drew away from the field engaging in a battle of their own.
Inside the final furlong, Sherwood Forest hit another gear as the five-year-old bay horse sprinted clear to win by 10 lengths, hitting the line in a time of 1:03.1. Reminiscn Bolo finished in second place, with Mardele getting third.
CHANGE OF EQUIPMENT DOES IT FOR
Jaguar, running with the visor on for the first time, made all the running in a native-bred four-year-old and upwards (non-winners of two) and an imported four-year-old and upwards (maidens) call at 5½ furlongs.
The Rowan Mathie-trained Jaguar, ridden by Javaniel Patterson, shot to the front when the starter let them go ahead of Airstream (Reyan Lewis), Rani Bangala (Trevor Simpson), and Principal Tiffany (Anthony Thomas) going into the half-mile turn.
Jaguar entered the lane with a comfortable lead, and with a couple of cracks from the whip the four-year-old chestnut colt responded and powered home to score by 5¼ lengths in a time of 1:08.3.
Jungle Boogie (Tevin Foster) came on strong towards the end of the race for second place ahead of Rani Bangala in third spot.
GREEN GOLD
Trained by Dalton Sirjue and ridden by Sadiki Blake, Green Gold Rush continued his good form in a three-year-old and upwards Optional Claiming ($550,000-$450,000) race that included native-bred six-year-olds and upwards (non-winners of four) and imported six-year-olds and upwards (non-winners of three) over 7 furlongs (1,400m).
Green Gold Rush was relaxed in third place behind Danny Spud (Raddesh Roman) and Rohan Kabir (Reyan Lewis) down the backstretch. Green Gold Rush maintained his gallop until going into the half-mile turn when he surged to the front ahead of Hecandance (Anthony Thomas) and Zabratone (Tevin Foster).
Approaching the distance, Green Gold Rush upped the tempo, bringing the field into the lane with a sizeable lead. Although Hecandance came with a surging run in deep stretch, Green Gold Rush kept up with his work and won by a length and a quarter at the line.
Hecandance finished second, with Rohan Kabir getting third place. The final time of the race was 1:29.2 (24.0 x 47.4 x 1:13.2).
Winchester McIntosh claimed Uncle Wal for owner Devon Brown from Lintonhoe Calder for $250,000, Errol A Subratie claimed Golden Emperor for himself from Donovan Plummer for $250,000, and Dennis Thwaites claimed Nina Dorada for owner Carlton Watson from Michael McIntosh, also for $250,000, from the first race.
In the seventh race, Raymond Townsend claimed Zabratone for owner Sydney Roman from Gary Griffiths, Ryan Darby claimed Wowza for owner Preston Munroe from Winchester McIntosh, Ryan Williams claimed Danny Spud for owner Garth Samuels from Tyrone Prince, Wilfred Chin claimed Rohan Kabir for owner Wayne Crosdale from Patrick Lynch, and Steven Todd claimed Hecandance for owner David Pottinger from Norman Smith. All claims were made at $550,000 each.