By Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

THE ELUSIVE Pick-9, which survived for nine consecutive race days, was cornered by a lucky punter at Caymanas Park on Saturday, the big winner walking away with a whopping $4.9 million.

Significantly, up to noon yesterday, the winner had not turned up at Caymanas Park to collect his cheque from CTL. As a result no information was available as to how much he spent, etc.

It should be pointed out that this Pick-9 was not all that difficult to win, bearing in mind that the two five-star bankers ­ COLTRANE and A KING IS BORN ­ duly obliged with the minimum of fuss.

Outside of this pair, WIMBLEDON at 3-5 in the fifth, MOST WANTED at 2-1 in the sixth, CAPTAIN BONE at 5-2 in the seventh, INSTRUMENTHAL at 3-1 in the fourth and even BLACK THATCH at 5-1 in the ninth were by no means difficult to spot. So where did punters go wrong.

Many hadn't a clue about MISS STRAWBERRY whose form coming into the eighth race for maidens was to say the least poor. Despite this, the four-year-old filly from the stables of Desmond Shand was the subject of a gamble and actually opened the betting as the 6-5 favourite.

DRIFTING

However, she gradually drifted out in the market to score at 3-1, this after disputing the lead in mid-track with 6-5 favourite INTROSPECTION before drawing off approaching the distance, beating INTROSPECTION by 3 1/2 lengths.

Despite MISS STRAWBERRY's unexpected win, I gather that over 50 Pick-9 tickets were alive going into the 11th and final race. And then it happened, DOUBLE BUCK running at odds of 27-1 with Chris Douglas aboard, came through on the stands' side midway the last furlong to win decisively, leaving in his wake the 4-5 favourite AWESOME MINISTER and 5-2 second chance LA RUDE.

DOUBLE BUCK had previously won over a mile on July 24 when ridden by Larris Allen. On that occasion the four-year-old gelding scored a 19-1 upset. Saturday's win was in fact his third for the year, having notched the first over the straight five course back in January by a nose from VALID REASON.

Given all of the foregoing, the son of That's Our Buck ­ Ledy was not without a shot, especially from his favourable high number draw. He should not have been despised in the betting to the tune of 27-1.

Incidentally, the Super-6 produced only two winners, each receiving a cool $630,408.00. There is a Hi-five carryover of $153,797.15 going into tomorrow's ninth race.