Jockey Jonathan Hernandez steered the talented grey colt to a four-length victory, Silver Story’s third straight stakes win, over El Duque, who had tried to take the rhythm out of the fancied horse by grabbing the lead in the early going only to lose steam in the last 400 meters.
So impressive was Silver Story’s victory under tight reins as he turned in a 1:36-clocking with quartertimes of 18'-25-25-27' over 1,500-meters.
El Duque took the P125,000 second prize while Top Mark finished third followed by Free Time and Top Quest in that order.
Silver Story’s win was worth another P300,000 for owner Patrick Uy, whose prized charger is heavily favored to sweep the remaining legs of this year’s championships for juvenile colts.
Hernandez’s victory atop Silver Story was actually his fourth straight in a day replete with thrilling finishes as the ace rider likewise drove third pick High Roller to a stirring win in the PCSO-Mitra Cup Championship for three-year-olds earlier in the day.
Displaying awesome riding skills, Hernandez steered High Roller past speedster Midnight Rose at the top of the stretch then outduelled Triple Crown leg winner and top pick Phenomenal in the last 200 meters to win the 1,600-meter race by half-a-length worth P210,000 for the Abuel family.
High Roller had quartertimes of 24-26-24-29' for a 1:43 clocking.
In the New Pagcor-Mitra Cup Championship for Juvenile Fillies, Speed Goddess foiled recent stakes winner Ilocandia Slew with a great wire-to-wire run as she fashioned out a four-length victory to win the top purse of P300,000 for the Yutadco family.
Hammerhead came from behind to snatch second place worth P125,000 as Ilocandia Slew faded out and settled for third and P75,000. — Ramon Romualdez