Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

JET BLASTER, running as the 9-5 second favourite with title-chasing jockey Trevor Simpson aboard, stormed through in mid-stretch to win the $315,000-$285,000 claiming race for the Sports Journalists of Jamaica Trophy over 1200 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday.

Owned by Winner's Circle and trained by Dwight Chen, JET BLASTER, edging down in class to vie for this trophy, won by 2 3/4 lengths from highly fancied INTROSPECTION (5-2), who in turn was five lengths clear of BUSTER JACK (20-1) in third.

ROCK STAR QUEEN (lame) was declared a late non-starter, reducing the field to 10.

WAGONIST, hunting a hat-trick of wins with hot jockey Oneil Mullings aboard, was installed as 8-5 favourite, but the American colt behaved unruly from the moment he came inside the parade ring, proving a handful for as many as six handlers who tried desperately to bring him under control.

Despite this, he led at a fast clip from BABY RENEE, VENOM and BADJEROUS ROSE passing the half mile, at which stage JET BLASTER was held just off the pace in fifth before advancing nicely into second, entering the straight.

JET BLASTER quickened to lead on the run to the furlong pole an darting down sharply to the rails in the last furlong, won with a bit in hand.

Stewards' inquiry

There was a stewards' inquiry into the running of the race, but the result was allowed to stand. Bred by Ralston Feanny, JET BLASTER is a 4-y-o bay gelding by Market Rally out of the Wise Emissary mare Born To Be Wild.

Meanwhile, Mullings, who is popularly called 'Lester Piggott' by his growing fan club, chalked up his fourth triple in just over a month, this comprising TOCUMEN at 6-1 for trainer Robert Darby Sr. in the Clifford Stewart Memorial Cup secondary feature (claiming $210,000-$180,000) over 1200 metres, STREET FIGHTER at 16-1 in the fifth, and the consistent SATISFIER at 5-2 in the sixth.

He thus pushed his season's tally to 26 to be only one behind leading jockey Paul 'Country' Francis who rode one winner on the card in 2-5 favourite UNQUESTIONABLE in the opening race. Mullings is actually joint second with crack apprentices Omar Walker and Javour Simpson, both sitting out suspensions.

The sparingly used apprentice Lenroy Collins notched his first official winner aboard 9-1 chance BAILAME in the seventh race. Collins had previously ridden BAILAME to victory in May of last year while attending the jockeys' school, but that was a race confined to the trainees. In addition, the 23-year-old had ridden HE AIN'T HEAVY to victory in two races confined to exercise riders at Caymanas Park prior to his enrolment at the jockeys' school.

The day's major upset came in the closing straight five race for maiden three-year-olds where the 99-1 outsider NATURAL ATLANTA stormed through in the last furlong with apprentice Rayon Wilson riding for trainer Patrick Fong.