NOTWITHSTANDING the swelering heat, Tisha Sevilla’s Jungkook (Low Profile out of Liquid Oxygen bred by the Esguerra Farms & Stud Inc.) came out victorious in the P1.8-milliion 2024 Philracom Classic Cup at the Metro Manila Turf Club in Malvar, Batangas recently.

In a wide open race with all entries gaining support from the bayang karerista, the eventual winner spent his time at the tail-end through most of the 1800-meter race while Istulen Ola and Boss Emong tried to out-do each other in the early goings.

At the half-mile pole, Don Julio joined the fray and eventually took the lead with 400 to go. That’s when the bay five-year-old stretched his legs and started making his move under the proddings of jockey Mark Alvarez to which the Rommel “Moy” Mongaya-trained galloper responded.

At the top of the stretch, the race was abbreviated to a two-horse affair between Jungkook and Don Julio. But with the distance of the journey coming into play, Don Julio had to give way to the strong charge of Jungkook.

The win gave the winning connections the top prize of P1,080,000 with Don Julio, Jaguar and Istulen Ola coming in second, third and fourth, respectively. The race’s quarter times were 14′-23-24-23′-28′ for a total time of 1:53.4.

In the Classic Cup Division 2, Vice-Governor Leonardo “Sandy” Javier Jr.’s owned and bred Moderne Cong (Art Moderne-Boogie To Seattle) hit the wire ahead of everyone else snatching the P420,000 winner’s prize overcoming the tough stand put up by Secretary which set early fractions of 14′-24′-23-24′.

That is until the Ruben Tupas-trained Andrew Villegas mount dug on the dirt to record a final quarter of :29 for a total of 1:55.8 in the 1800-meter race. Third went to Chrome Bell and Sophisticated finished fourth.

Top choice Diversity (Dewey Boulevard-O’ Deara)owned by Herminio “Hermie” Esguerra and bred by Esguerra Farms & Stud Inc. employed a different strategy in bagging the Classic Cup Division 3.

Expected by the racing fans to slug it out for the early lead, jockey Jeffril Zarate decided to let noted speedster La Liga Filipina to run up front while settling nicely in second, but not too far from the pace.

At the 600-meter pole, the Ernesto “Boy Gare” Roxas-trained four-year-old was asked for run, and respond he did. But the road to victory still had a tough nut to crack at the final turn for home as Open Billing tride to steal the win.

However, Open Billing succumbed to the pace of the race and dropped out of contention with 200m left. From then on it was clear that Diversity will not be denied to even with the late charge employed by Mimbalot Falls which eked out the second place finish. Easy Does It and Uncle Vhines rounded out the top four.

Time of the race was 1:55.4 with clips of 14-24-25′-24′-27′.

“It was another great afternoon of top-notch racing. Congratulations to all the winners of the three divisions of the 2024 Classic Cup,” Philracom Chairman Reli de Leon said.

He added, “Also congratulations to the Philracom 50th Anniversary awardees. Your contributions to the Philippine horseracing industry will always be remembered.”