Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
PLEASURE CRUISE (centre) wins the 1200-metre Sports Journalist Association of Jamaica Trophy at odds of 8-1 with jockey Dane Nelson aboard yesterday.

Ainsley Walters, Freelance Writer

CHAMPION TRAINER Wayne DaCosta's six-year-old American-bred gelding, PASSA PASSA, yesterday scored his second straight upset win in Open Allowance company, galloping strongly in the final furlong to beat 2-1 favourite ACCOMPONG by three quarters of a length at 1700 metres.

Partnered by Trevor Simpson, who has reportedly rejoined DaCosta's barn as stable rider following a parting of ways between the leading trainer and Dane Nelson, PASSA PASSA chased AITCHEMESBEAGLE to the top of the straight before grabbing the lead midway in the stretch run.

ACCOMPONG, who again left the gate slowly, came with a charging run widest off the turn with Nelson, but was too used-up trying to catch the field down the backstretch, and flattened out when challenging PASSA PASSA inside the final half-furlong.

Battling winner

It was PASSA PASSA's second win in two weeks. He was also a battling winner over 1200 metres on June 7 and was slapped with top weight of 57 kilos for yesterday's race.

The Ping Pong Stables-owned gelding should next start in Graded Stakes, having won two races in Open Allowance.

Simpson and DaCosta, who teamed-up for a record-breaking season in 2002, the most wins in a single calendar year by both jockey and trainer, also combined to win the fifth event with RIGGED TO WIN at odds of 2-1.

DaCosta had a third winner on the 12-race card, LIKKLE BIT in the opening event, partnered by champion jockey Omar Walker, who also won the second race astride THUNDER CLAP to maintain his 12-win lead in the jockeys' standings over Shane Ellis.

Title-chasing Ellis and Richard Mitchell also rode two winners. Ellis won aboard THE REAL FURY in the fourth at 1200m and JACK BE GOOD in the seventh at 1400m.

Driving finish

Mitchell booted home PATH OF BLISS in the third at 1000m straight and returned to land the sixth in a driving finish aboard NATURAL HEART, outfinishing BDELLIUM with Omar Mullings astride.

PASSA PASSA was one of four upset winners at the back-end of the programme, forcing an $11 million Pick-9 carryover to Wednesday's midweek programme.

PLEASURE CRUISE won the Sports Journalist Association of Jamaica Trophy for the 10th race at odds of 8-1 with Nelson.

Ridden by Nelson, the Robert Darby-trained six-year-old beat MELINDAGATA by a neck.

Vin Edwards' EL DIABLO won the following race, the Joshua Morrison Memorial, at odds of 7-1, with Larris Allen aboard, nailing MAGNIFICO on the line.

RED I, trained by Ryan Darby, capped an afternoon of upsets by making all the running, at odds of 8-1, to stun punters in the closing event at 1000m straight.

The late upsetters also knocked out Super-6 players, sending a $1 million carryover to Wednesday.