Still five lengths away from La Signorina as they swung for home, King Asa crept into the picture down the stretch and behind Daquis’ expert handling, the three-year-old horse foiled La Signorina’s wire-to-wire bid by snatching the victory in a photo-finish.
King Asa’s victory won a guaranteed prize of P240,000 for the De Ubago stable while La Signorina took the P90,000 second purse in the event that featured the country’s top class c jockeys.
Uncle Buck, with EM Sagala on the saddle, finished third in the 1,600-meter event while top favorite Court General limped home in fourth place under the reins of Miguel Recosana. — Ramon Romualdez