Ainsley Walters, Freelance Writer
NASATOL, TRAINER Robert Darby's tough, seven-year-old grey gelding, yesterday scored a battling victory at his pet trip of 1,000 metres straight, notching his 19th win from 60 starts at Caymanas Park.
Partnered by champion jockey Omar Walker, NASATOL stalked the pace set by the duelling pair of RIO INFINITO and ASKAWOMAN before moving into striking position, entering the main track third.
Set down for the drive by Walker, NASATOL, running nearest to the stands, powered past RIO INFINITO a furlong out and dug in nicely to turn back the 38-1 debutant, SISTER CAT, before holding PRINCESS SHEILA closing for second in mid-track.
Slipping down
Owned by Kary Neale since claimed from Wayne DaCosta, NASATOL won the Overnight Allowance event as the even-money favourite and will immediately return to Open Allowance after slipping down in class for his past two races.
Walker moved further away from Shane Ellis in the defence of his title, booting home three winners on the 11-race card.
He won the first two races in driving finishes, getting SIR ROMEL to outbattle WHEELS OF LAW at 1,820m in the opening event before producing LADY LIZ with a storming run, over the last half-furlong, to outfinish HONEY BUNNY at 1,000m round.
The champion jockey pushed his tally to 70 wins, 14 clear of Ellis, whose lone winner on the programme was MACHISMO for trainer Anthony Nunes in the seventh event at 1,400m.
The day's trophy races were won by SANTA ANITA GIRL, who landed Race Six of the year's first CTL Claiming Series, and JADORE, a 15-1 upsetter in the 1,800m Valbert Marlowe Memorial Cup, the afternoon's final event.
Closing fast
SANTA ANITA GIRL, partnered by Devon A. Thomas for trainer Donovan Raymond, turned for home eighth and was taken down to the rail, where she closed fast a half-furlong out to overhaul SONNY'B'GOOD, who had just shaken off KEELER in a stretch duel.
JADORE, ridden by Oneil Mullings for Richard Azan, made a decisive move three furlongs out to shoot past GALLAVANTER and pulled off in the stretch run.
SANTA ANITA GIRL's 8-1 win in the 10th race smashed all bets going after the Pick-9 jackpot, which started the day with an $11 million carryover from last Saturday, sending a $13 million pool to this weekend.
However, the Super-6, which also had a carryover, was caught despite upset wins from SANTA ANITA GIRL, LADY WALES at 6-1 in the eighth and BUNKER DUST at 9-1 in the fifth.
There were three winning Super-6 tickets, each picking up $1.2 million, sending this bet back to its $500,000 guaranteed minimum payout this Saturday.
