Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer
WHEEL N DEAL, running as the 6-5 favourite, is eased by jockey Dane Nelson as he wins the closing round-five race ahead of fast-finishing FLAGAMAN (Dick Cardenas) at Caymanas Park last Saturday. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer.
Maiden two-year-olds take the spotlight at Caymanas Park today in the $550,000 Lester Saunders Memorial Cup over 1400 metres for native breds.
Also on the nine-race programme is Race No. 4 in the second CTL Claiming Series over 1800 metres for horses in the $220,0000-$190,000 claiming spread.
This has attracted 11 starters, including THUNDER CLAP who scored a notable upset in race three on the series over 1200 metres on September 24, as well as SAMBA DANCER, MARKET BRIDLE, CHINA TOWN, RED GENERAL and the front-running MISS TIMS.
Upset win
The latter made all for an upset win over 1400 metres on October 11 and being the lone speed present, will have to be caught.
SAMBA DANCER, CHINA TOWN and MARKET BRIDLE are all down in class to vie for this trophy and to my mind, the winner will more than likely come from this trio.
SAMBA DANCER, who was a fast-finishing third to HASAN over 1300 metres on a $240,000 claiming tag October 18, returns at the convenient mark of 51.0kg by virtue of the apprentice Lenroy Collins' 4.0kg claiming allowance. Given the longer distance, he should win from MARKET DAZZLE and CHINA TOWN.
Meanwhile, the well-forward debutant, NAVAL COMMANDER, a powerfully built bay colt by Requete out of La Grande Dame, is tipped to make a winning debut in the Lester Saunders Memorial Cup to be contested by eight native bred two-year-olds.
Stable companions
Trained by Percy Hussey for his mom Ruth, NAVAL COMMANDER has been carrying himself nicely at exercise in recent weeks, having impressed last Wednesday morning when galloping 5-1/2 furlongs in 1:08.0, the last five in 1:01.3.
Coming from a stable that has done really well with two-year-olds this season, NAVAL COMMANDER should join multiple-winning stable companion MISS RUTH and also ST BESS, who won at odds of 19-1 on Saturday, scoring first time of asking.
Visiting Panamanian jockey Dick Cardenas, who won aboard his first ride locally last Saturday with ST BESS, has the leg-up. Cardenas, 24, is here to ride as the new stable jockey for the Husseys.
Other firm fancies on the card are SMILE OUT to stave off NATURAL ATLANTA in the third race, CHIPONYOURSHOULDER over SATISFIER in the fifth, BORN TO DANCE to go all the way in the sixth and Peter McMaster's EXPLOSIVE PEAK to stave off SKYWAY EXPRESS in the eighth over 1100 metres for open allowance horses.
