Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
MUSICAL MAESTRO (centre), toting the crushing impost of 60.5 kg, responds to strong ride from leading jockey Trevor Simpson to beat the front running LA RENA (left) with apprentice Carlton Malcolm aboard by a neck in the Reggae Trophy graded stakes co-feature over the straight five course at Caymanas, on Saturday. Owned by Howard Hamilton, MUSICAL MAESTRO was one of three winners for Simpson and trainer Dwight Chen on the card.
A fall by the howling 2-5 favourite, LA'S DANCER, at the start of the fourth race, ended in grief for Pick-9 players at Caymanas Park, on Saturday.
They never survived this unforseen circumstance, as the 14-1 outsider MILLION DOLLARBABY rubbed salt into the wound by scoring an upset win with title-chasing apprentice, Omar Walker, riding for leading trainer Wayne DaCosta. LA'S DANCER was ridden by leading jockey Trevor Simpson, who not not only escaped injury, but rode three winners, including MUSICAL MAESTRO, a fighting winner of the Reggae Trophy feature under the crushing impost of 60.5kg.
Later in the afternoon, the Vin Edwards-trained IT'S ABOUT TIME produced a devastating last furlong run under Larris Allen to win the eighth race at odds of 12-1.
Photo finish
The improving four-year-old gelding got up in the nick of time to win in a three-way photo finish.
That effectively put paid to the Pick-9 and also ensured that the Super-6 would not be won by more than a dozen punters. Eleven punters with all six won $100,332 each.
In contrast, 17 punters with seven of nine winners won $10,030 consolation prizes in the Pick-9. The carryover to tomorrow's mid-week stands at $1,109,781.
Mild upset
The two outsiders aside, THUNDER CLAP at 6-1 scored a mild upset in the sixth race to give in-form apprentice Carlton Malcolm, the first of two winners on the card.
In this race, the well-backed ISLAND CIGAR fell early in the straight, dislodging jockey Oneil Mullings, who hit the ground very hard. Unfortunately, Mullings suffered a fracture to his left thigh and had to be rushed to hospital.
Having saddled five winners in the past two racedays, reigning champion trainer Wayne DaCosta has overtaken long-time leader and arch-rival Philip Feanny in their private duel for the trainers' championship.
DaCosta followed up Wednesday's three-timer with a double comprising MILLION DOLLARBABY and 3-1 chance CRUCIAL POINT. Significantly, in just two race days, he has closed all of $1.4 million on Feanny.
DaCosta now leads with $18.4 million thanks to 42 winning horses, while Feanny holds down second with $17.9 million and 41 winning horses.
