Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

SIMILAR TO last year, the 13th running of the 3-y-o and up open allowance race for the Hall of Fame Stakes Trophy resulted in a bang-up finish, victory going to 7-1 chance PASSA PASSA.

Ridden by title-chasing jockey Dane Nelson for champion trainer Wayne DaCosta, the America-bred six-year-old ran on strongly in the last furlong to win by half a length from 13-1 chance ROMEZ, who chased long-time leader TOOT DI HOOT (9-1) to the last furlong.

FREE FALL (7-1) closed strongly into third place, heads on with 4-5 favourite SUPER DAVE who raced prominently in third under former champion Trevor Simpson to have every chance three-wide leaving the furlong pole, only to be beaten for speed in the closing rush. And TOOT DI HOOT was a mere length away in fifth.

Earlier in the afternoon, the two-turn specialist AITCHEMESBEAGLE, ridden by Oneil Mullings, scored a stunning upset (27-1) in the day's secondary feature for the Ren Gonzalves Memorial Cup (overnight allowance) over 2000 metres to give trainer and part-owner Solomon Sharpe his first training success since obtaining his licence a year ago.

Mullings and Nelson who rode two winners each, but both were upstaged by champion jockey Omar Walker who rode three winners in PAT ON CALL (7-2), LADY SUHAAGRAAT (5-2) and odds-on favourite DIABOLICAL KID for DaCosta to lead the standings with 61 wins - eight clear of Nelson.

Security at the track

For the second straight raceday, security at the track in certain sensitive areas came into question when a trainer, Robert A. Taylor was beaten up and his car keys taken away by thugs in the stable area. This incident occured after Taylor had saddled RED GENERAL to a 26-1 upset win in the fifth race. Apprentice Kevin Blake who rode RED GENERAL was also threatened.

This comes on the heels of jockey Kerry Perry being roughed up last Wednesday after winning aboard the 99-1 outsider PROSPECT QUE. The police were summoned to Caymanas Park following yesterday's incident.

Mid-week racing takes a break this week to pave the way for next Saturday's Digicel Jamaica Derby. Sixteen entries were received yesterday.