QUEEN DEFTINY GOES ONE BETTER

Queen Deftiny, a second-place finisher at the races on May 7, returned and went one better in a Claiming ($250,000-$200,000) contest for three-year-old and upwards horses who have not earned $160,000 since February 19, 2023 over 4 furlongs (800m).

Queen Deftiny, trained by Nicholas Smith and ridden by Matthew Bennett contested the early lead with Buckaluck (Dane Dawkins). Queen Deftiny kept up with the pack for the first half of the race before breaking away crossing the dummy rails onto the main track. Queen Deftiny eventually won the race by a length and a half in 50.3 (23.3). Buckaluck finished in second place, with Matriarch (Reyan Lewis) taking third.

ADIN WILLIAMS OFF THE MARK IN 2023

Veteran trainer Adin Williams saddled his first winner for the season when his charge Manaco won a three-year-old and upward Optional Claiming ($400,000-$300,000) spread that included six-year-olds and upwards horses (non-winners of four) going 5½ furlongs (1,100m).

Manaco broke behind the early pace at the off as jockey Tevin Foster held the four-year-old chestnut colt in fourth position behind Just An Illusion (Jordan Barrett), Milkman (Jemar Jackson), and Buzz Assault (Anthony Allen) going into the half-mile (800m) turn.

Manaco came off the final bend going four wide, still racing behind the leaders. Foster produced his mount on the outside for an effort and Manaco responded by getting up in time to beat Milkman by three quarters of a length at the line.

Fabulosity (Matthew Bennett) came from way off to get third place. The final time for the event was 1:10.3 (23.3 x 47.3).

CASUAL PEACH

Casual Peach, after going winless for over two years, finally got it right in a three-year-old and upwards Optional Claiming ($550,000-$450,000) event that also included native-bred five-year-olds and upwards (non-winners of four) at a one mile (1,600m).

With Dane Dawkins riding for trainer Barrington Bernard, Casual Peach settled in second place behind Rohan Kabir (Roger Hewitt) after the break. Casual Peach continued to trail Rohan Kabir for most of the way before surging to the front at the top of the lane.

Casual Peach, who hugged the inside rails, thereby cutting the turn coming into the drive, turned on the afterburners in deep stretch and powered her way to an emphatic 5¼-length win. Rohan Kabir held on for second place with Expeditious (Ramon Nepare) getting up for third. After splits of 24.4 x 48.3 x 1:15.4, the final time for the race was recorded at 1:44.2.

AAVA JAELYN

Four-year-old bay filly Aava Jaelyn, under a well-timed ride from Anthony Thomas, got up in the final stride to beat rivals in a native-bred four-year-old and upwards (non-winners of two) and imported four-year-olds and upwards (maidens) travelling 5 furlongs (1,000m) straight.

Aava Jaelyn was not the best of the runners to leave the starting gates, racing behind the pacesetter as Dream of Paris (Paul Francis) led a tight group of horses battling for control.

Coming across the dummy rails, Dream of Paris continued to lead ahead of Prince Sanjay (Dane Dawkins) and PIP (Matthew Bennett). Thomas produced his mount and Aava Jaelyn came storming towards the end of the race to pip Prince Sanjay on the line for the win.

Aava Jaelyn won by a head with Print Quality (Jordan Barrett) finishing third. The final time was clocked at 1:02.2 (23.1 x 47.4).

TEN HORSES CLAIMED

In the first race Stedman Curtis claimed Colour Me Tan for owner Eric Henry from Steven Todd, Adrian Prince claimed Buckaluck for owner Raphael Gordon from Michael McIntosh, Cashbert Khwalsingh claimed Matriarch for owner Gilbert Khwalsingh from Lennis Shim, Joseph Thomas claimed Hunter’s Ridge for himself from Gary Crawford, and Alford Brown claimed Queen Deftiny for owner Allan Flynn from Nicholas Smith. All five horses from the opening event were claimed for $250,000 each.

Oral Hayden claimed Milkman for himself for $400,000 from Steven Todd, Greg Fennell claimed Manaco for owner Colshar Limited for $400,000 from Adin Williams; and Todd claimed Fabulosity for owner Peneil, also for $400,000, from Byron Davis from the third race.

In the fourth race Cashbert Khwalsingh claimed Duke Of Springs for owner Gilbert Khwalsingh for $550,000 from Carlton Cunningham, and Omar Williams claimed Rohan Kabir for owner Henry Dalhouse, also for $550,000, from Wilfred Chin.