Speedster Power Drive brandished awesome power over the 15/16-mile distance and humbled fancied Hobby and Streets of Gold to pull off a stirring wire-to-wire victory in the 26th Philracom Anniversary Cup yesterday at the San Lazaro Hippodrome.
It was indeed a stunning win by Power Drive, the seven-year-old male chestnut charger by Sal's Shuttle out of Pompierre who had to endure the early challenge by the quick-starting Magnificent Seven before thwarting Charlemagne and Gold Edition down the stretch to bag the top prize of P300,000 for owner George Lazarte.
Hobby, last year's Horse of the Year, and veteran stakes race campaigner Streets of Gold failed to come up with their vaunted stretch run skills and settled for third and fourth, respectively.
Earlier, Master Ijhay scored an expected victory in the Philracom Chairman's Cup, beating Good Grace by three lengths.
Late in the day, longshot Foolish Heart fashioned out a come-from-behind victory over Dragon Strike and Sun City to rule the Commissioner's Cup.