By Orville Clarke, Freelance WriterA SHOCK victory by the lightly raced filly DARLING ANNA in the sixth race for maiden three-year-olds ensured attractive carryovers in the Pick-9 and Super-6 at Caymanas Park on Saturday.
Running at the fantastic odds of 178-1 with former champion Joe Buchanan aboard, DARLING ANNA closed strongly from just off the early pace to overhaul the leader LADY LAMMTARRA (3-1) midway the last furlong, winning by 1-1/2 lengths in a maximum field of 16.
A check with the top bookmakers yesterday revealed that DARLING ANNA was almost totally overlooked by their patrons.
Only one bookmaker, Track Price Plus, got burned when a Portmore punter bought a one by three double event with DARLING ANNA (key) at $100.00 per bet. With the double closing on the favourite RESTLESS WARRIOR paying over $17,000, he collected a cool $177,780.00 on a modest $300 bet.
Word at the track was that DARLING ANNA is owned by a well-known Corporate Area Don, but this could not be officially confirmed. Incidentally, the non de plume of her owners is Sons Of The Lane. The question is which lane?
Meanwhile, the Pick-9 saw 14 punters with seven of nine each receiving $6.037.50. The carryover going into Saturday's big Guineas meet stands at $631,488.90.
The Super-6, on the other hand, proved elusive for the second consecutive raceday and the carryover stands at a whopping $1.2 million, this after 50 punters spotting five of six winners received $5,268.00 each.
In addition to DARLING ANNA, the other horse overlooked by punters in their exotic bets was the front running JOHNNY'S KING, who won the ninth race at odds of 10-1 in a driving finish from highly fancied FORMALLY GOLD.
Once again JOHNNY'S KING has proven that there are few if any horses more game in training at present. His propensity to fight and win, even losing narrowly at times, is something to behold.
Winning favourites in the Pick-9 were SYYLISH MISS at 9-5 in the second, CLASSY TANYA at 3-5 in the third, FUTZ also at 3-5 in the fifth and RESTLESS WARRIOR at 4-5 in the seventh.
My friend and fellow scribe, 'Lenky' Mills, has labelled KUTZ a quarter horse. Seeing the lightly raced but speedy American 3-y-o colt struggle to hold the field at bay on Saturday, I am inclined to share that view.
