Simpson
Orville Clarke, Freelance writer
RUN PAPA RUN, ridden by champion jockey Trevor Simpson for owner/trainer Dennis Lee, turned in an awesome front-running display at Caymanas Park yesterday to win the 65th Lotto Classic for the Governor's Cup over 2000 metres.
Going off at odds of 6-1 in a field of 12 native bred three-year-olds, the vastly improved bay gelding by Footlosse out of Run Marisa Run kept on strongly in the last 200m to win by 2 1/4 lengths from the fast-finishing GOOD TO GO (7-2) who shouldered top weight of 57kg under Florida-based Jamaica jockey Allen Maragh.
In third place, a farther 5 3/4 lengths adrift, was the 5-2 second favourite LOCHNESS DRAGON (Charles Hussey) who was previously unbeaten in two starts, while BATTLEOX at 4-1 was fourth. The big disappointment was the performance of the 9-5 favourite CRUISING ALTITUDE with title-chasing jockey Shane Ellis riding for trainer Anthony Nunes.
After racing prominently for a long way, the lightly-raced chestnut colt faded from the final bend to finish a well-beaten eighth (eased).
RUN PAPA RUN led narrowly from SEATTLE SUE (11-1), FLYWITHME, CRUISING ALTITUDE and BATTLEOX as they thundered past the stands for the first time. He proceeded to lead by two lengths (on the bridle) from the lightly-weighted filly SEATTLE SUE at the halfway stage, followed by a four-length gap to CRUISING ALTITUDE and BATTLEOX not too far off the pace.
But when Simpson stepped on the gas from the half mile, it was all over barring the shouting.
Running like a scared hare, RUN PAPA RUN turned for home six lengths clear of BATTLEOX and SEATTLE SUE and, although coming back a bit in deep stretch, won unchallenged.
SECOND CONSECUTIVE WIN
Bred by many-time champion Henry W. Jaghai, RUN PAPA RUN, who is a half brother to ROYAL RUN, voted champion stayer of last year, posted his second consecutive win following his runaway victory over 1200m on April 12.
He has now won four races from only nine career starts and his next stop will of course be the Red Stripe Derby on June 12 when he will face off with the brilliant unbeaten 2000 Guineas winner DISTINCTLY IRISH, who bypassed the Lotto Classic in preparation for the Derby.
Celebrating the biggest win of his training career, Lee who has been around for more than 20 years, said victory was always on the cards for 'PAPA'.
"I was over-confident," declared the elated trainer.
"You see, I never really trained him extensively before this race. When Simpson told me after winning with him early last month that this was the horse he wanted to ride in the Governor's Cup, that only made me realise that I had a winner on my hands," said Lee who was accompanied by his wife, Fay, who proudly received the Governor's Cup on his behalf from Brian George, CEO of Supreme Ventures Limited.
SIMPSON DOMINATED
Simpson dominated the 12-race programme by riding the last four winners. Among them was the season's top sprinter, LIL'COUNTRY BOY, who made all impressively in the million-dollar Lotto Sprint Trophy over 1100m, winning by 6 1/4 lengths in a new stakes record time of 1:05.0 behind fantastic splits of 22.2 and 45.1 for the half mile.
His job was made easier when the reigning 'Horse of the Year' A KING IS BORN was declared a late non-starter, having gone lame. It was billed as the clash of the year, but in the absence of A KING IS BORN, his stable-companion and reigning champion sprinter I'MSATISFIED proved no match for LIL'COUNTRY BOY in the field of six top-class horses. The American 4-y-o colt from the stables of champion trainer Wayne DaCosta has now won his last three races.
Simpson also booted home the DaCosta-trained CRUCIAL POINT (9-5) and duly completed a double for Lee aboard the evens favourite DR. RSF in the closing race to assume sole leadership in the jockeys' championship with 37 winners - four ahead of arch-rival Shane Ellis who failed to ride a winner on the card.
However, Simpson has been slapped with a two-day suspension and will miss the next two race meets - Saturday, May 22 and Monday (Labour Day), May 24.
