Orville Clarke, Freelance Reporter

BLONDIE BLONDIE (left), ridden by Leo Miller, goes by long-time leader Georgette Tasha (Paul Francis) to win the seventh race for native-bred 3-y-o maidens over 1800 metres at Caymanas Park on Wednesday. Trained by Frank Parham, BLONDIE BLONDIE won an odds of 8-1. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

It's all about the massive Pick-9 at Caymanas Park today, as the popular exotic bet, which has eluded punters for the past 18 racedays, boasts a record carryover of $38.6 million.

Thanks to upsets by UNQUESTIONABLE at 14-1 in the fifth race on Wednesday, PRINCESS ZANAI at 9-1 in the eighth and BLONDIE BLONDIE at 8-1 in the seventh, not to mention the disqualification of five-star banker MUSICAL MAESTRO in the third, the cash-eating Pick-9 lived to fight another day.

Given the huge carryover, Pick-9 sales should go through the roof today. Indeed, Pick-9 fever should grip Caymanas Park like never before and a payout in excess of $45 million looks a mere formality, if caught.

consolation prize

On Wednesday, the nature of the racing was such that the Pick-9 consolation prize was paid out to punters with seven of nine winners. Nine punters received a cool $197,921.00 each.

Meanwhile, the annual renewal of the Joseph Ashenheim Memorial Bowl - the three-year-old and up overnight allowance feature over 2000 metres - has attracted 10 starters, including the talented three-year-old colt JOSIE WALES, fresh from his good third to Triple Crown winner ALSAFRA in the July 12 RJR Jamaica St. Leger, also over 2000 metres.

Trained by Percy Hussey for his mother Ruth, JOSIE WALES has been sparingly raced this season. After winning the $3.5 million Supreme Ventures Jamaica 2-Y-O Stakes over 1600 metres last Boxing Day, he established himself as the winter book favourite for the classics, but suffered a major setback early in the year, which required a knee operation.

improved race

As a result he missed the season's first classic, the Jamaica Licensed Bookmakers 2000 Guineas on April 4 and ran no race at all when making his seasonal debut in the Lotto Classic (Governor's Cup) over 2000 metres in May. But the 3-y-o son of Slew City Slew-November Lace ran an improved race to finish third in both the Digicel Jamaica Derby and St. Leger. He was only four lengths away fourth in the St. Leger, a mere length behind the runner-up ROYAL IMAGE, who some weeks earlier beat open allowance horses quite convincingly.

This speaks volumes for the chances of JOSIE WALES, who should report cherry ripe for today's encounter. Having caught the eye at exercise on Tuesday morning, galloping six furlongs in 1:14.3, JOSIE WALES, with only 52.0kg and Clive Lynch aboard, should win from AD INFINITUM, LIKKLE BIT and GOOD COMPANY.

Other firm fancies on the card are the well forward two-year-old debutante MAN OF STEEL in the first race, DANIELLE MY GIRL to make all in the third, down in class GUIDING LIGHT to catch BONNIE'S VICTORY in the fifth, the 2000 Guineas third place finisher MINISTEROFJUSTICE to catch fellow three-year-old, STAR OF THE SEA, in the seventh and down in class BACK POCKET in the eighth.