Top favorite Jaguar: Sweet revenge.
Jaguar rules Triple Crown
TOP favorite Jaguar (Dance City out of Delta Gold), owned by former Deputy Speaker Juan Miguel “Mikey” Macapagal Arroyo, exacted sweet revenge in grand fashion over first leg tormentor La Trouppei by winning the P3.5-million 2nd Leg of the 2023 Philracom Triple Crown Series at the Metro Manila Turf Club.
Racing in third within striking distance of the speed duel between Going East and Easy Way in the first three quarters, the chestnut colt bred by Joseph Dyhengco kept calm, composed and patient through the masterful handling of Jeffril T. Zarate.
It was with 600 meters left in the 1800 meter journey that Zarate said it was time to make his move urging Jaguar to zoom to the lead never to look back leaving the rest of the field huffing and puffing to gain ground and winning by about four lengths over the nearest rival.
The Dante Salazar-trained galloper crossed the wire in 1:51.8 with clips of 13′-23-23′-24′-27, in the process giving his connections the P2.1-million top prize.
Second place went to first leg winner La Trouppei worth P700,000 while Secretary took third for P350,000 and Early Boating managing to finish fourth and bring home P175, 000 for the effort.
In Saturday’s action, Easy Does It (Eagle Scout-Gabba Girl) mowed them all down in the last quarter after being neatly placed in sixth through most of the race and watching the speed battle up front between four protagonists to bag the P1.5-million 2023 Hopeful Stakes registeering a time of 1:54 (13′-22′-24-26-28) over the 1800m distance.
Five lengths behind came Glamour Girle, then Winner Parade and Badboy MJ coming home second, third and fourth.
In the P1-milliion 3YO Locally Bred Stakes DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos’ Prime Billing (Top Billing out of Subprime bred by Mar Tirona) had to dig deep into his strength in the final quarter to overcome the never-surrender stance of Sky Story (Charge Now-Hookkaida).
They held off the late charge of both Keep Da Trick and I Under Oath which came in third and fourth, respectively.
Time of race was 1:54.8.24′-29′
“First of all, c ongratulations to the winners and their connections in our three exciting events lined up this weekend. And secondly, thank you to the bayang karerista who braved the rains, some of which came here to Malvar, Batangas to witness the events first hand,” said Philracom Chairman Reli de Leon.
