Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

Denzil Miller Jr. (left), Caymanas Track Limited's racing secretary, presents the Colin Melhado Memorial Cup to Alice Rambally, representing The Base whose 9-y-o gelding, KERMIT, won the feature race over 1200 metres at Caymanas Park on Saturday. Included in the presentation party is winning trainer Robert Darby Sr. (third right) who posted two winners on the card. The other was TRIPLE ACCOUNT. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance photographer

The Pick-9 again proved elusive at Caymanas Park on Saturday and the carryover to this weekend stands at a whopping $5.9 million.

With the pot mushrooming during the holiday season, a payout in excess of $8 million looks a mere formality should it be caught this Saturday.

Punters also missed the Super-6 and the carryover sits at $1.98 million. This will more than likely clear the $4 million mark.

Both exotic bets were derailed by ASK JOE, who scored a 15-1 upset in the 10th race for bottom of the barrel claimers.

Ridden by Andrew Thomas for owner/trainer, Michael Beecham, ASK JOE, who is often tardy at the start, left the gates promptly on this occasion to race prominently on the rails in the backstretch.

He got the inside run entering the straight and went by long-time leader MR. Q.G.P. on the rails for a decisive win.

Other winners

Although ASK JOE frustrated punters, other winners such as HEY TRAIN at 5-1 and KERMIT at 9-2 in the closing race for the Colin Melhado Memorial Cup also stumped many.

Winning Pick-9 favourites were DOMMA MITE at 4-5, WILD AT HEART at 7-5 and BOMBAY PRINCESS (6-5), the first of two winners on the card for Trainers' Association president, Vin Edwards, who also posted HEY TRAIN, co-owned by himself and wife, Monica.

In-form jockey, Paul 'Country' Francis, described himself as the dead-heat jockey, on Saturday, after holding on aboard ITAL QUEEN to share the spoils with the fast-finishing CIRCLE DROME in the fifth race over 1200 metres.

Since he started riding in 2003, Francis has been involved in as many as five dead heats for first.

Jockey unseated

Visiting jockey, Andrew Ramgeet, failed to ride a winner from a number of live rides, as did Shane Ellis, who was unseated by howling favourite FELICIDAD leaving the starting gates in the fourth race won by DR. BADOO (7-2) with Wesley Henry up.

Ramgeet, a three-time local champion, has left to resume riding at Mountaineer Park, in West Virginia, but Ellis will continue riding until the new season at Woodine, in Canada, begins in March.

The legendary Emilio 'Bimbo' Rodriquez, who booted home favourite NIKITIS in the opening race, will extend his stay.