- Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
DRAMATICS (left) is driven out by jockey Valentino McBean to hold off the fast-finishing RUN JAN RUN (centre, Oneil Mullings) in the closing stages of the Drumbeat Trophy co-feature race over the straight five course at Caymanas Park yesterday. DRAMATICS won by a neck at odds of 5-2.
Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
DRAMATICS, RUNNING at odds of 5-2 with the now sparingly-used Valentino McBean aboard, won the annual renewal of the straight five claiming race ($140,000) for the Drumbeat Trophy at Caymanas Park yesterday, but only just from the fast-finishing RUN JAN RUN.
Owned by Evon Williams and trained by Lawrence Freemantle, DRAMATICS made all the running in mid-track. He galloped on to the main track three lengths clear of 2-1 favourite AWESOME MINISTER under champion jockey Trevor Simpson and CONQUISTADORES racing alone on the stands' side and although shortening in the last 100 metres, held on grimly by a neck from RUN JAN RUN closing fast in the middle.
The 20-1 outtsider RESTLESS PEGASUS finished strongly on the far rails for third, a mere length away in the field of 13.
DRAMATICS, who finished second to TURBULENCE on a higher tag ($170,000) in race one of the CTL Claiming series over 1200 metres on the previous Saturday, chalked up her third win from 16 starts this season, the past two over the straight.
CLAIMS
A 6-y-o mare by The Medic out of the Jack Horner mare Theatrics, DRAMATICS was claimed for $140,000 after the race. As many as six claims were submitted for her (two void) and in a four-way shake, she went to trainer Robert Townsend.
Jockey McBean, who has been experiencing a lean spell this year, said he was happy to ride a winner for the first time in a long time and is hoping the attitude of trainers towards him will change.
"I badly needed this winner," he said. "Is a long time ah don't win a race. In fact, this is my first winner since I won aboard Golconda on Ash Wednesday and I give thanks for that.
"Right now I am one of the fittest jockeys riding down here, yet I can't get rides," he said. "I need to get more rides to show them that I have not lost the old touch," said McBean who added that he cannot afford the luxury of an agent at present.
Earlier in the afternoon, newcomer QUIET STRENGTH (2-1) won the two-year-old co-feature for the Eddie Black Memorial Cup over 600 metres straight, this by 2 1/2 lengths from the 1-5 favourite CLOCK WORK who led for the first 400 metres before giving way to the winner in a field of eight.
One of two winners for owners the Lakeland Farms and leading trainer Philip Feanny, QUIET STRENGTH (Winston Griffiths up) chased early leader CLOCK WORK for the first 300 metres before mounting his challenge. He disposed of CLOCK WORK early in the last furlong and moved away for an emphatic victory.
A PERFECT DOUBLE
QUIET STRENGTH is an attractive, well-conformed American chestnut colt by Pioneering out of Sarita Sarita. Lakeland Farms and Feanny rounded off a perfect double in the ninth race where CAPTAIN BONE, an American three-year-old colt, ran on strongly a furlong it to catch and beat long-time leader LADY KAYLA (2-1) in the one mile overnight allowance race contested by seven starters.
Installed a 2-5 favourite, CAPTAIN BONE who had been a model of consistency since winning his first race back in February, completed a triple for Simpson who had earlier won aboard 5-2 chance PLEASANT WOOD in the sixth race for $170,000 claimers over 1500 metres and the third aboard the progressive three-year-old colt CHOSEN ONE who was again impressive in victory.
As a result, Simpson pushed his season's tally to 69 - 15 clear of closest rival Shane Ellis who failed to ride a winner.
CAPTAIN BONE was one of three favourites to score on a day when EXPLOSIVE FLAME at 53-1 in the fifth race over the circular nine course and STORM CLOUD at 27-1 in the first over a mile provided the upsets. EXPLOSIVE FLAME was the first winner for jockey Robert Stewart since he returned from a two-year suspension on July 3.
Like McBean, he is appealing to trainers for rides.
