Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer FOURTEEN PUNTERS cornered the new-look Pick-9 at Caymanas Park on Saturday, each receiving $110,324 from the $1.5 million payout.
On the previous Saturday, Caymanas Track Limited (CTL) increased the guaranteed minimum of the Pick-9 from $500,000 to $1 million in an effort to boost sales and this has had the desired effect.
It eluded punters on the first day and also last Wednesday, but with the
fancied horses holding their own
on Saturday, it failed to survive the meet.
FAVOURITES
Among the Pick-9 winners were five favourites in THIS IS THE GIRL at 6-5 in the fourth race, MOLTEN LAVA at similar odds in the seventh for the Tewfic Ziadie Memorial Cup, five-star banker PURE JUSTICE in the eighth, MEDICAL ACCOUNT at 2-1 in the ninth and RISTO-CAT at evens in the nightpan.
Other popular Pick-9 winners not starting favourites were ROYAL RUN at 4-5 in the fifth race for the Eros Trophy and CHOSEN ONE at 9-5 in the 10th for the George HoSang Trophy where he scrambled home by a short head from the grey SEAGAR.
Even the stable-companions AMANDA'S GOLD at 3-1 in third and WILD ZONE at 7-2 in the sixth were by no means difficult to spot by Pick-9
players. Both, however, had to pull out all the stops to win in driving finishes.
In the case of the Richie Todd trained AMANDA'S GOLD, it appeared to the naked eye that she arrived a trifle late on the stands' side to catch PLEASANT WOOD , but the photo-finish proved otherwise.
STRONG RACE
Despite losing narrowly, Florida-based Jamaican jockey Ramon Parish rode a very good race aboard PLEASANT WOOD. He said the horse was "dead under me" leaving the furlong pole and he tried his best to nurse him home, but the effort just failed.
Champion apprentice in 2001, Pariah not only looked fit and assured but the experience overseas has obviously helped him to become a more complete jockey. If he decides to ride at Caymanas Park for an extended period and can secure good mounts with
the assistance of a proven top agent
like Donovan Wilson ( his former agent), he could make a real impact a the park.
