Top photo shows Boss Emong as he is about to cross the finish line in the Dr. A.P. Reyes Memorial Race. Lower photo has jockey Kelvin Abobo receiving his trophy for the win from Carlitos “Ger Tos” Reyes, son of the honoree. Looking on are (from left) MMTCI Racing Manager Rondy Prado, Philracom Chairman Reli de Leon, trainer Ernesto Roxas, and Charlie Reyes.
Boss Emong, Pharoahs Treasure win
KENNEDY Morales’ Boss Emong still proved to everyone that he is still the horse to beat in the older horses category by emerging victorious in the 2023 Philracom A.P. REYES Memorial Race in honor of the former president of the Philippine Racing Club and one of the founders and former chairman of the Asian Racing Conference, Dr. Aurelio P. Reyes, at the Metroturf racetrack in Malvar, Batangas last Sunday.
Only sent off as the second choice in the six-horse field, the grey 7-year-old by Dance City out of Chica Una trained by Ernesto “Boy Gare” Roxas and bred by Joseph Dyhengco went wire to wire keeping the opposition at bay in the 1800m journey despite having a 57kg handicap weight.
There was nary a threat to his pace-setting ways clocking 1:52 with quarters of 13′-23′-23′-24-27′ for the distance. Second placing went to Don Julio and third was Jungkook.
“I was able to dictate the pace the whole time that’s why he still had a lot of horse in him when we crossed the finish line,” said jockey Kelvin “The Genius Rider” Abobo who guided Boss Emong to a perfect ride.
Present during the awarding rites were Dr. Reyes’ son and grandson, Carlitos better known in the racing circles as “Ger Tos” and Charlie “Cha” Reyes.
In the 2023 Philracom Imported Maiden Stakes, top pick Pharoahs Treasure (American Pharoah out of Namurian Sunset) played a waiting game nicely tucked in third at the onset while Catalunia and Golden Opportunity slugged it out up front setting early fractions of 25′ and 23 for the first half of the mile race.
Just after the half-mile mark, jockey Oneal P. Cortez decided he has seen enough as he urged the Joseph Dyhengco-owned and Dante Salazar-trained import to go for the lead hunting down the two frontrunners and grabbed the lead with about 600m left.
At the final turn for home, Pharoahs Treasure was clear by three lengths with Daily Burn fast approaching but this charge came a little too late as he ran out of real estate to make up for the lead erected by the eventual winner.
“I knew I had a great chance of winning this one because his recent workout of a breezing 1:44 over the mile was a tell-tale sign of better things to come,” Cortez said in a post-race interview.
The clock stopped at 1:40.4 for the mile with clips of 25′-23-24-28. Daily Burn took runner-up honors while Magandang Dilag made do with a third placing.
“I would like to congratulate all the winners in today’s races. We, in the Commission, believe that it is high time to recognize Dr. Aurelio P. Reyes for his invaluable participation and contributions in the improvement not only of the local horseracing industry, but also in Asian racing as well,” De Leon said.
