THE battle for supremacy in older horses has been settled and it was Laiza Eje’s Boss Emong which crossed the finish line ahead of everyone else in the 2022 Philracom Commissioners’ Cup held last Sunday at the San Lazaro Business and Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite.

The Dance City out of Chica Una grey progeny bred by noted horseman Antonio “Tony” Tan Jr. stopped the clock at an even 1:40 over the 1600-meter main event with clips of 24-24′-25-26′ about two lengths ahead of chief rival Leonardo “Sandy” Javier Jr.’s Super Swerte.

.As everyone expected, it was both Best Regards and Sky Shot which dictated the early pace of the race with the Boss Emong, Son Also Rises and Super Swerte in tow not far from the lead.

.At the first turn, Son Also Rises dropped out of the challenge relagated to fourth and the race became three-pronged (Best Regards, Sky Shot and Boss Emong) with 2021 Triple Crown third leg winner War Cannon overtaking Super Swerte to position himself in fifth.

.With around 600-meters to go, the Ernesto Roxas-trained Boss Emong was brought up to the front by his rider Dan “Jackhammer” Camanero over the visibly tired pace setters while Super Swerte and War Cannon also made their move positioning themselves to try to claim glory.

At the top of the final stretch run, Boss Emong spread his wings and took a three length lead at one point with Super Swerte and War Cannon still trying their very best to make up for lost ground.

But in the end their efforts were not enough to deny Boss Emong in bringing home the bacon, with Super Swerte eventually finishing second, War Cannon third and Best Regards in fourth.

The win was worth P 1.5-million to Boss Emong’s connections while Super Swerte, War Cannon and Best Regards had to contend themselves with P500,000 P250,000and P125,000, respectively.

With the win, Boss Emong has taken the first step in the quest for the 2022 Triple Cup which has a P1.5-million added bonus should one galloper emerge as champion taking all three legs with the 2022 Philracom Classic, an 1800-meter race, scheduled next month at the Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite and the 2022 Philracom Chairman’s Cup at the Metro Manila Turf Club in Malvar, Batangas which will be over the lung-busting 2000-meter distance.

The Commissioners’ Cup Division II was rocked by longshot veteran stakes campaigner Shining Vic owned by Mar Tirona pulling the rug from under his highly touted rivals.

The progeny of Benhur Abalos’ champion Ibarra out of Cleave Hill was sent off as only the seventh choice out of eight runners in the 1600-meter race having a mere backing of P5,172 out of the almost P270 thousand sales in the Doubles betting.

Benefitting from the outermost post position, the Ruben Tupas trained and Andrew Villegas mounted Shining Vic was clear of any traffic from the onset and was neatly positioned in fifth through most of the journey.

With around 400-meters left in the race, it was as if Villegas told Shining Vic “Let’s go boy. It’s our turn” and made a mad dash for the lead.

At the final turn for home, the audience in attendance was silenced as the longshot steered clear of the rest of the field and blew the competition away with a six-length victory.

Time of race was 1:40.6 with quarters of 24′-24-25-27.

Shining Vic earned P450-thousand for his connections while Isla Puting Bato, Victorios Colt and Batang Cabrera had to be contented with P150, 000, P75, 000 and P37,500, respectively.

….Mark Ryan Ponce’s Spandau Ballet (Stately Victor out of Baywatch Girl) took the Commissioners’ Cup Division III employing his vaunted come from behind fashion in the last quarter of the race.

Neatly placed in seventh at the start well behind the speed battle between three contenders, Cam From Behind, Kid Baloloy and La Liga Filipina which ran the first half of the 1600-meter journey as if there’s no tomorrow.

Even at the top of the final strech, Spandau Ballet was still in fourth but running his heart out and finally grabbing the lead with around 100-meters left bringing home bragging rights and P300,000 for his connections.

Rounding out the top six and their prizes are Fortissimo (P100, 000), Hook On D Run (P50, 000 ), Bomod Ok Falls (P25,000), La Liga Filipina (P15,000) and Full Control (P10,000).

Philracom Chairman Aurelio “Reli P. de Leon said, “Congratulations to the winners of the three Commissioners’ Cup divisions. This is a clear indication of more exciting races in the coming days especially with the expected lowering to Level 1 of NCR and Region 4a by March 1.”

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