DaCosta
A REMATCH between champion trainer Wayne DaCosta's speedy American-bred LIL' COUNTRY BOY and Philip Feanny's pair of I'MSATISFIED and HERECOMESFUDGIE will be the centre piece of three trophy races at Caymanas Park this afternoon.
The trio will command the bulk of the betting in the six-horse field lined-up for the 1200-metre Abe Issa Memorial, the second time in three weeks they'll square-off in a Stakes sprint following LIL COUNTRY BOY's impressive wire-to-wire win at 1100 metres late last month.
DaCosta's speedster made short work of Feanny's duo when they last met but the railbirds are convinced I'MSATISFIED, who's reporting a kilo lighter and going a half-furlong longer, will turn the table on LIL' COUNTRY BOY.
However, the four-year-old American colt is no ordinary sprinter. He has terrifying backstretch speed, reeling off 22.0 flat for his first two furlongs last time out, followed by 45.3 for the half-mile, splits which crippled Feanny's duo.
The weight swing I'MSATISFIED should have benefited from has been nullified by DaCosta calling up four-kilo claiming apprentice Howard Newell to partner LIL' COUNTRY BOY at 52.0 kilos, ensuring both horses are returning at identical handicaps.
The presence of another fast American, MILLENIUM PRINCESS, is being touted as LIL' COUNTRY BOY's downfall. She's quick and coming off back-to-back wins extremely light. However, it will be her first taste of Stakes company and shouldn't pose a problem for a pro like LIL' COUNTRY BOY.
I'MSATISFIED, who tried to take the fight to DaCosta's runner last time out will have no option but to chase all day with topweight. He appeared to be gaining inside the last furlong to finish a length-and-a-half behind the American when they last met but at no point did he pose a real threat.
HERECOMESFUDGIE was totally outsped and will be hard-pressed to get close again.
SIR HOWARD STAKES
Dennis Lee's RUN PAPA RUN, declared without a rider for the Sir Howard Stakes, gets the nod ahead of more experienced HEARTOFAMAVERICK in the 1200-metre Sir Howard Stakes for native-bred three-year-old colts and geldings.
HEARTOFAMAVERICK, an experienced and well-forward gelding trained by DaCosta, should start favourite with apprentice Howard Newell. However, DaCosta's runner appears suspect coming off a three-month lay-up and can be toppled by RUN PAPA RUN, who's competing for the first time among non-winners-of-two but has trained better for the event.
Newell's four-kilo claim will come in handy aboard HEARTOFAMAVERICK, who has been treated with lasix and is seasoned at the level, twice losing narrowly to the talented filly PERFECT TEN. However, he definitely had a setback late last year can be upstaged by the improving RUN PAPA RUN, who has been steadily prepared with this event in mind.
Lee's runner, a half-brother to the likes of ROYAL RUN and SPECTACULAR RUN, has looked sharp in the mornings, galloping 1:00.3 from the gate Saturday and having finished two-and-a-half lengths second to Jamaica two-Year-Old Stakes runner-up BATTLE OX in his previous race, must be given every chance to beat his more fancied rival.
The other co-feature is the 1200-metre Hot Line Stakes for three-year-old native bred fillies. Feanny's SEATTLE SUE, a convincing winner on debut when running on lasix, has been kept busy in the mornings and has only Lee's EXOTIC LINKS to fear. However, SEATTLE SUE posted a faster time when both horses won at 1100 metres on Boxing Day and gets the nod.
