SUPERB
Super Swerte rules Commissioner’s Cup; Cat Bell tops 3YO race
Super Swerte exacted sweet revenge over Pangalusian Island in the Philracom Commissioner’s Cup 2021 on Sunday at the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite.
With JB Guce consistently egging on his mount, Super Swerte crossed the line five lengths ahead of Pangalusian Island, clocking one minute and 40 seconds after the 1,600-meter race, which was staged for the benefit of medical frontliners at the Philippine General Hospital.
It can be remembered that Pangalusian Island stole the spotlight from the favorites by pulling off a surprise triumph over Super Swerte in a thrilling homestretch during the Philracom’s Presidential Gold Cup late December last year.
This time, lady luck smiled on Super Swerte and wasn’t denied of the champion’s purse of P1.2 million for horse owner Mayor Sandy Javier, chairman of the Metropolitan Association of Race Horse Owners.
“I’m very happy sa pagkakapanalo ni Super Swerte at sa development ng Philippine horse racing industry na sana magtuloy-tuloy na,’’ said Javier, who is looking forward to enter Super Swerte in the coming Chairman’s Cup.
Pangalusian Island checked in second that netted P450,000 for horseowner-breeder Wilbert Tan while Great Wall finished third for a day’s earnings of P250,000 and Toyforthebigboy placed fourth for P100,000.
“We are very satisfied with the response of racing aficionados to this rivalry between Super Swerte and Pangalusian Island. It’s one-all for them and we expect to see them again in the Chairman’s Cup on June 20 at the MMTCI,’’ said Philracom Chairman Aurelio “Reli’’ De Leon.
Proceeds of the Commissioner’s Cup, which offered a total prize of P2 million, will go to the PGH in Manila after the third floor of the government-run hospital was recently destroyed by fire.
“Ine-expect ko ang magandang performance ng kabayo (Super Swerte) ko dahil sinunod lahat ng hinete ang mga bilin ko at wala syang binago,’’ said trainer Ruben Tupas.
Meanwhile, Cat Bell, one of the expected contenders in the coming Triple Crown, topped the 3YO Maiden Stakes Race by defeating O Sole Mio in the 1,500-meter contest that made horse owner Elmer De Leon doubly proud.
Cat Bell triumphed over six other horses in the race in one minute and 37 seconds and won P600,000 for De Leon out of the P1 million guaranteed prize. O Sole Mio netted P225,000 under the guidance of jockey JB Hernandez, Tocque Bell placed third (P125,000) and La Vie D’Or checked in fourth worth P50,000.
