Orville Clarke, Freelance WriterIN A driving finish, FORMALLY GOLD got up in the nick of time to pip fellow 8-5 chance CHOSEN ONE by a short head in the open allowance feature for the Jamaica Thoroughbred Hall of Fame Stakes over 1200 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday.
Powerfully ridden by top apprentice Paul 'Country' Francis, FORMALLY GOLD raced just off the early pace in third as her more-fancied stable-companion SI MI TRIAL, the 3-2 favourite with former champion Wesley Henry aboard and CHOSEN ONE, under current champion Trevor Simpson, disputed the early lead.
Both were locked together in a blistering speed duel (22.3, 46.1) passing the half mile before CHOSEN ONE on the outside came away from the halfway stage to turn for home three lengths clear of FORMALLY GOLD and this year's 1000 Guineas winner SI MI TRIAL jointly in second.
CAUGHT ON THE LINE
But, although looking the likely winner when still full of running approaching the distance, CHOSEN ONE did something he often does when having his race to win losing his rhythm in the last 100 metres and was caught on the line by the American four-year-old filly FORMALLY GOLD.
CHOSEN ONE did the same thing in his previous race over 1700 metres on May 14 looking all over the winner with Hubert Bartley leaving the furlong pole only to be caught in the last stride by PITTACUS in a thrilling dead heat. And in an earlier race over the straight course on March 5, the Dwight Chen-trained four-year-old gelding scrambled home by only a short head from SEAGAR.
Top weight THE MINISTER, running at odds of 5-1 with Brian Harding aboard, finished two lengths third in a field of seven.
A bay filly by Formal Gold out of Hazy Prospect, FORMALLY GOLD is owned by Alexander Haber and trained by four-time champion Wayne DaCosta.
Both men, who are the respective leaders in the owners and trainers standings, teamed up to win the opening race for the Eddie Black Memorial Cup for two-year-olds with the debutante TASSY'S WHIP (7-2), an attractive American-bred filly by Wind Whisper out of the Sunny's Halo mare Sun Crystar.
TASSY'S WHIP, who ran on strongly to catch odds-on favourite CIRCLE THE HEART in the closing stages of the 600 metre (straight) race, was the first of three winners for non-claiming apprentice Dane Nelson on the
JRC Pre-Derby Hall of Fame 11-race programme.
NELSON STARS
Nelson also won aboard 3-2 favourite UNQUESTIONABLE for trainer Deon Facey in the sixth race over 1100 metres and came back to boot home stable-companion POWERED BY TUNDRA to a 22-1 upset in the ninth, Race No. 5 in the CTL Claiming series ($180,000 - $160,000) over 1300 metres.
Meanwhile, ONE ONE NINE (3-1), ridden by in-form Larris Allen for trainer Ralph Porter and owner Delroy Ellis, got up on the line to deny the hot favourite PITTACUS by a nose in the Ren Gonzalves Memorial Cup secondary feature over 2000 metres, this contested by 11 overnight allowance horses.
Allen rode two winners, including CIRCLE DROME for trainer Jackson Hong, as did Simpson (Jetlyn's Drama, One Special Lady) who is mourning the death of is father. Funeral service for his father takes place this afternoon at the Meadowrest Chapel starting at 3:00 p.m. Interment follows immediately after.
