SHEER Delight strengthened his claim for the Mouttet Mile next month by winning the $1.19-million United Racehorse Trainers’ Association of Jamaica (URTAJ) Trophy feature race at Caymanas Park on Saturday.

The three-year-old, American-bred, dark bay colt — trained by Donovan Hutchinson and ridden by Christopher Mamdeen — dominated the Restricted Stakes contest for three-year-olds and upward. Sheer Delight covered the nine-furlong and 25-yard distance (1,820m) in 1:57.1, splitting the fractions in 24.4, 48.2, 1:15.2, and 1:41.4.

Sheer Delight sat off the pace for most of the way before surging to the front of the field while approaching the distance. He held off the fast-closing Captain Sparrow (Omar Walker) and Unruly Don (Raddesh Roman) by three-parts of a length, showcasing his tenacity and staying power.

It was the second winner on the 10-race card for both Hutchinson and Mamdeen. The trainer-jockey combination had earlier won the second race with Sneaky Jose, over five and a half furlongs (1,100m).

Also with two winners on the day were trainer Steven Todd and jockeys Raddesh Roman and Dane Dawkins.

Todd’s winners were Bad Investment (Raddesh Roman) and Jet Ski Girl (Dane Dawkins) in the first and sixth races, respectively.

In addition to Bad Investment, Roman won aboard Sensational Move for trainer Winchester McIntosh for his double while Dawkins, who had won with Jet Ski Girl, completed his double aboard Nakamura in the eighth race for trainer Errol Burke.

Racing continues today with a nine-race card, starting at noon.

— Ruddy Allen