The 103rd running of the $7.5-million Jamaica Derby Classic race, sponsored by BetMakers Technology Group, at Caymanas Park on Monday — was expected to be wide open — a race in which any number could play.

So said, so done, as the Patrick Lynch-trained Ability, in one of his best performances to date, defied all expectations in the 12-furlong (2,400m), striking at odds of 17-1.

Ability, ridden by veteran jockey Allen Maragh, made the critical move when he surrounded long-time leader Mojito approaching the distance, and the writing was already on the wall as to how far the bay colt would win. Ability won the Futurity event for native-bred three-year-olds by three and a half lengths in a time of 2:42.3 (24.0 x 48.1 x 1:16.0 x 1:42.3 x 2:10.1).

Money Miser (Raddesh Roman) finished second, while Secret Admiral (Roger Hewitt) running the race of his life, came home in third place. Mojito (Dane Dawkins), winner of the 2000 Guineas, finished fourth, and Thalita (Reyan Lewis), winner of the Jamaica St Leger, finished fifth.

Lynch, who was saddling his third Jamaica Derby winner after The Bomber in 2007 and Drone Strike in 2018, said that the hard work done by his team paid off.

“It is a nice feeling winning my third Jamaica Derby race as Ability ran good. But it was hard work from everyone to get here and I must thank everyone for their efforts,” Lynch told the Jamaica Observer‘s The Supreme Racing Guide.

For Maragh, it was his second Jamaica Derby winner, having booted home Miracle Man to victory in 2005.

“Winning any race is a great feeling, but winning a Classic race like the Jamaica Derby is an unforgettable experience. We [Patrick Lynch] go way back, so winning the Derby for him is special. The horse [Ability] did fantastically well,” Maragh stated.

Ability sat in the middle of the pack at the start of the race as last year’s two-year-old champion Mojito led the field of 14 runners past the stands for the first time and into the clubhouse turn. Mojito led the field onto the main track, followed by Money Miser, Thalita, and Huntsman (Omar Walker).

Ability was still lagging behind as Mojito extended his advantage down the backstretch ahead of Money Miser, Thalita, and Huntsman. Maragh let loose the notch a bit as they approached the half-mile (800m) turn, and Ability began to encircle horses and looked dangerous as they navigated the final turn. With the momentum on his side, Ability charged to the front, full of running as the distance approached, and with no one moving forward, the bay colt went about his business to record his biggest win of his career.

Ability, who is bred by Lion Tamer out of the Soul Warrior mare Disability Charm, was winning for the third time in his five-race career and had earned more than $5.6 million in his career.

It was Lynch’s second winner on the 11-race card, following Legal Bomb (Ramon Nepare) in the fourth race.

Reyan Lewis, the current leader, also had a successful day, winning three races. Lewis won the first three races on the schedule while riding Milkman for trainer Paul Hylton, Richie Rich for trainer Jason DaCosta, and Ultimate Machine for trainer Robert French.