Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

Today's pre-Xmas race meet at Caymanas Park features the sixth and final race in the second CTL Claiming Series ($220,000 and less) for 2008, over 1500 metres, and it should come down to a battle between father and son.

The popular series is run on a monthly basis, the first series from January to June and the second from July to December.

Lucrative cash incentives are offered by CTL to the owner, trainer, jockey and groom, who top their respective categories (based on points) after six months.

Ten starters have been declared for the CTL feature, including two from the stables of veteran trainer Robert Darby Sr, who won the trainers' category in the first series and two from the stables of his son, Ryan, who has been getting among the winners in recent months.

Highly-fancied

Ryan saddles the highly fancied SAMBA DANCER and ABSOLUTE STORMER, to be ridden by Kerry-Gayle Robinson and Paul 'Country' Francis, respectively, while Robert Sr. saddles CHINA TOWN and VENOM, either of whom are capable of winning.

In addition to the above-mentioned quartet, others expected to figure prominently are KEELER and THUNDER CLAP, who was an upset winner over 1200 metres in race three of the second series.

While all of the above should ensure keen competition, the one best equipped to pull it off must be the consistent SAMBA DANCER, who steps down in class with everything in his favour.

The five-year-old gelding by Latin Charm out of the Herb Water mare Mekamara advertised his well-being on November 29 when failing by three-quarter length to beat out-of-class GOOD COMPANY over 1600 metres on a $255,000 claiming tag.

Three-way photo finish

A week earlier, he finished a good third to MARKET BRIDLE over 1400 metres and, on October 29, went down in a three-way photo finish to MISS TIMS and MARKET BRIDLE, in race four of the series over 1800 metres, under an indifferent ride from 4.0kg claiming apprentice, Lenroy Collins.

SAMBA DANCER reports in good condition for today's encounter and is not too high in the scales with 55.0kg to put it across KEELER, CHINA TOWN and ABSOLUTE STORMER, who will not find the distance too short.

Other firm fancies on the card are SKIPPING SUE in the second race over the straight for maiden two-year-olds; the well-forward debutant RISK REWARDS in the fourth race for maiden three-year-olds; SUMMER PRINCESS to go one better in the sixth; LITTLE BAY to go all the way in the seventh; and FLAGA-MAN to catch the speedy filly TWENTYFIRSTOFJUNE in the eighth race over 1300 metres.