Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
The 28-1 outsider MIDKNIGHT BLUE (Ramon Parish) moves away from the pack to win the fourth race over 1400 metres at Caymanas Park on Wednesday, winning by 8-1/2 lengths in a field of eight.

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

The island's best two-year-olds hold centre stage as the $9.5-million Supreme Ventures triple crown series continue at Caymanas Park today, with the $3-million Pick3 Super Challenge Trophy over 1400 metres.

This is, in fact, the second leg of the series which concludes on Boxing Day, December 26, with the $3.5-million Supreme Ventures Jamaica 2-Y-O Stakes over 1600 metres.

The sponsors are offering a $1-million bonus to the owner of the horse good enough to win all three races in the series.

Having won the first race in the series, the $2.5-million Cash Pot Only One For Me Trophy over 1200 metres on October 18, the unbeaten filly MISS RUTH is the only two-year-old in line for a shot at the bonus.

Owned by Ruth Hussey and trained by her son Percy, MISS RUTH, who bids for her fourth win from as many starts, turned in an impressive front-running display in the Cash Pot Trophy to beat the then favourite, BRUCEONTHELOOSE, by 1-3/4 lengths.

Both are top contenders over the additional furlong of today's race and it promises to be pretty close between them. In addition to this pair, others expected to figure seriously are WESTERN REPORT and FABULOUSCONNECTION, who impressed in winning the valuable Hi-Pro Stables Choice Feeds Trophy, over 1300 metres on Heroes Day, October 20.

MISS RUTH will have a change of rider, the stylish Panamanian jockey Dick Cardenas, who is stable jockey to the Husseys, replacing Shane Ellis who has piloted the bay filly by Western Classic-Theia to victory on the three previous occasions.

Starting favourite

MISS RUTH could well start favourite on the strength of her Cash Pot win, but it will not be so easy this time around, as BRUCEONTHELOOSE, WESTERN REPORT and FABULOUSCONNECTION represent a deadly trio.

Despite this, MISS RUTH continues to move impressively at exercise and having stamped herself as the fastest juvenile seen out so far this season, will have to be caught.

Fourteen-time champion trainer Philip Feanny holds a strong hand with the pair of BRUCEONTHELOOSE and WESTERN REPORT, both of whom were beaten by MISS RUTH when they last met in the Cash Pot Trophy.

WESTERN REPORT, who has won since, has been burning up the track at exercise and could have improved sufficiently to make it close.

Having won with both WESTERN REPORT and BRUCEONTHELOOSE, leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths has elected to ride the latter and I trust his judgement.

After winning impressively over the round five course on his September 27 debut, BRUCEONTHELOOSE ran into a firebrand in MISS RUTH and had to settle for second in the Cash Pot Trophy.

However, the grey colt by Wheelaway out of Road To Justice has looked razor-sharp at exercise since and given the additional 200 metres, is afforded a grand chance of turning the tables on the talented MISS RUTH.

BRUCEONTHELOOSE was actually gaining on her at the finish of the Cash Pot Trophy and now better drawn on the outside of the field, is expected to overhaul MISS RUTH in deep stretch.

I also like JAM ROCK in the third race, BLUE MARLIN fourth, down in class GOOD COMPANY in the sixth and FLAGAMAN in the ninth.