Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
LA's Dancer, ridden by apprentice Javour Simpson, sprints clear of rivals to win the sixth race over 1500 metres at Caymanas Park, on Wednesday. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer
The Pick-9 and Super-6 start anew at Caymanas Park tomor-row, both having been caught on Wednesday's nine-race programme.
The Pick-9 embraces races two to 10, the Super-6 from race five to 10.
On what is the annual Jockey Club of Jamaica race meet in which all of the races carry trophies, we look at the Super-6 which gets under way with the Howard Hamilton Plaque (non-winners of two) over 1200 metres confined to four-year-olds and up.
The one to beat must surely be SUMMER WIND, the mount of leading jockey, Omar Walker, who is coming off back-to-back five-timers.
Trained by Fitzgerald Richards, the four-year-old gelding left us with useful form in July when finishing third to WILD AT HEART over the straight five course and back in action well trained, should prove too strong for main rivals GO MAR GO and MARKET BRIDLE in this sort of company.
Walker has a good shot at following up in the sixth race for the Derrick Smith Plaque over 1100 metres in honour of the newly appointed Minister of National Security, who is a long-standing member of the Jockey Club.
Walker rides the consistent RIGGED TO WIN from the stables of champion trainer Wayne DaCosta and this stretch-running filly will not find the trip too sharp.
Still, I prefer the chances of DR. BADOO (working well), which looks the right choice based on his fast-finishing second to OUTFITHER over the distance in the Dr. Ralston Feanny Memorial Cup on September 22.
Vastly improved
Briefly, the vastly improved SCHIZANDRA ought to be followed when she takes on seven 'live' opponents in the seventh race for the Royal Dad Trophy over 1820 metres.
Then, take fleet-footed ABOUND-ING GRACE (Walker up) to stave off SASSY SUSAN and KERMIT in the 8th race over the straight, down-in-class NATURAL DESIRE to catch GRACE MARIE, HIDALGO and JET BLASTER in the ninth, the feature Jockey Club Stakes over 1400 metres, before closing off with CHOSEN ONE in the nightpan.
SUPER-6 FANCIES
5) SUMMER WIND
6) DR. BADOO/PRINCESSS LORNA/THE BEST MAN
7) SCHIZXANDRA/FIRST IN THE SAND/IVAN THE TERRIBLE
8) ABOUNDING GRACE/SASSY SUSAN/KERMIT
9) NATURAL DESIRE/HIDALGO/GRACE MARIE
10) CHOSEN ONE/SHAKE YOUR BOOTY/MAKING DREAMS<
Tocumen, Fusilier claimed
Five horses were claimed at Caymanas Park on Wednesday, including the winners UNCLE D & ME, TOCUMEN and FUIS-LIER, all ridden by jockey of the moment, Omar Walker.
In the second race, UNCLE D & ME provided veteran trainer Robert Darby, Sr. with his 500th career win and was immediately taken for $360,000 by trainer Anthony Ferguson for himself. In the third race, Darby struck again with TOCUMEN and this time the eight-year-old gelding was picked up for $195,000 by trainer Dennis Lee on behalf of Roy Vassell.
Also claimed in the fourth race were the runner-up FOURFORTYFOURTRAIN and SOFTLY MY DEAR.
The three-year-old gelding, FOURFORTYFOURTRAIN, was taken for $210,000 by trainer Lawrence Freemantle on behalf of Oliver Gustard. And SOFTY MY DEAR was also picked up for $210,000 by Robert Darby, Sr. for Derrick Sardio.
The final claim was for FUSILIER in the fifth race. The six-year-old horse was picked up for $460,000 by Freemantle on behalf of Clinton Rhoden.
