In a thrilling display of speed and racing strategy, Wall Street Trader, trained by Rowan Mathie, easily brushed aside rivals in the $1.7-million Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission (BGLC) Trophy, the main attraction on Thursday’s eight-race card.

The five-year-old American-bred dark bay/brown gelding produced a stunning performance, surging from behind to win the five-and-a-half furlong (1,100m) Open Allowance event by an impressive 11 ½ lengths.

Mathie’s clever tactics paid off as Wall Street Trader, known for his early speed, was restrained in the early stages before unleashing a powerful finish in deep stretch to claim victory. The winning time was 1:07.1 (24.2 x 48.2).

“It was a good performance from Wall Street Trader. We’re teaching him something new; we are teaching him to come from behind,” Mathie explained to the Jamaica Observer’s The Supreme Racing Guide.

Mathie said that this approach helps Wall Street Trader to relax more in his races and avoid his usual early sprint, which can sometimes put him at a disadvantage.

“We’re trying to change his running style, and today’s win shows that it’s working. He always tearaway some four, five, six lengths on the headline and so we want to change that,” Mathie added.

Mathie is now considering the horse’s next move, saying, “We’ll wait and see what opportunities arise.”

Wall Street Trader, ridden by Raddesh Roman, was held back at the start of the race as
Joy Is Gold (Tevin Foster) took the lead ahead of A Gift From Ben (Ramon Nepare) and
Jaguar (Abigail Able).

Going into the half-mile turn, Jaguar swept past runners, surged to the lead, and began to pull away from Joy Is Gold and A Gift From Ben. Undeterred, Roman waited for the perfect moment to strike, and continue to race behind the leaders.

Turning for home, Wall Street Trader held the inside rails and unleashed a blistering pace, leaving rivals in the dust. Joy Is Gold held on for second, while Life is Life took third, under Oneil Scott.

“It was an easy assignment,” Roman said. ‘I have been programming this horse for a month now and so I knew what exactly to do.”

It was the third winner on the day for Roman, who had earlier won aboard
Tigeramedat in the first race for trainer Spencer Chung and Cruzinn Again for trainer Ricardo Mathie in the sixth race. Cruzinn Again was a chance for Roman as he replaced Reyan Lewis in the saddle.

Meanwhile, two-time defending champion trainer Jason DaCosta and current leading rider Tevin Foster teamed up to win two races on the day.

DaCosta and Foster won with Miss MoneyPenny in the second event, the BGLC/TOBA Juvenile Dash, and the sixth race with Captain Fantastic.