Philtobo-Mitra Cup underway

Racing action at the Santa Ana Park shifts to high gear when the fourth Philtobo-Mitra Cup Championships unfolds today with Wind Blown, Midnight Lady and Don Paolo spearheading a bunch of classy gallopers flexing their muscles in their respective divisions.

"Everything’s set for the fourth running of the Philtobo-Mitra Cup futurity racing festival this Sunday," said Bienvenido "Nonoy" Niles Jr., president of the organizing Philippine Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Organization. "We’re inviting all racing fans to watch this very special event."

Wind Blown, hot on a comeback trail, is competing in the Pioneer Insurance Classic, one of the five major championships to be disputed in the racefest honoring the late Speaker Ramon Mitra Jr., considered as the moving force behind Philtobo.

The two-time Horse of the Year is facing five other rivals in the highlight race of the day which will also showcase the two-year-old colts, two-year-old fillies, three-year-old colts, three-year-old fillies and Tanduay Imports Open.

Niles added that all six main attractions of the racing spectacle also backed by the Philippine Racing Commission, Philippine Racing Club, Pioneer Insurance, Tanduay, PCSO, Unilever Philippines and Disconnect Trading, will comprise the day’s Pick Six event which will be called the "Supertobo Pick Six" from races 4 to 9.

Midnight Lady is leading the Tanduay Imports Open cast, while Don Paolo is entered in the 2-YO-colts.

Also tipped to perform well in their respective brackets are Flying Jordan and Last Hazm in the 2YO colts, Concorde and Cat’s Jewel in the 2YO fillies, Success Story and Security Master in the 3YO colts, Tatler Cover and War Hero in the 3YO fillies and Absolute Charmer in the Tanduay Imports.

Free Wind, last year’s Presidential Gold Cup champion, is predicted to pose the biggest threat to Wind Blown, Hermie Esguerra’s prized galloper who made his triumphant return last Oct. 26 after a six-month layoff.

Members of the Mitra family, led by Rep. Abraham Mitra, are expected to grace the awarding rites along with other Philtobo stalwarts such as Antonio Lagdameo, Benedicto Katigbak, Augusto de Jesus, Francisco Cayco, Manuel Viray, Jesus Cantos, Mariano Tirona, Albert Yam, Johnny Tionloc, Michael Trillana, Jose Quiros, Eduardo Gonzalez, Ernesto Logarta Jr. and Joy Rojas.

Top officials of the Philracom, led by chairman Jaime Dilag, as well as bigwigs of PRCI, Pioneer Insurance, Tanduay and the other sponsoring firms are also expected to attend. — Ramon Romualdez