Red Star repeats over West Bound

Red Star Rising proved yesterday his Presidential Gold Cup conquest of West Bound was no fluke as the former beat the latter in a thrilling photo finish for the Philracom Open Classic championship at the San Lazaro Park in Carmona, Cavite.

The three-year-old chestnut male of Khozaam out of Ito’s Choice repeated over West Bound by a nose, winning the top prize of P1 million for owner Michael Trillana.

The top favorite but eventual second placer West Bound won P376,000 for owner C&H Enterprises.

Buena Sera came in third and Diktador fourth.

Responding well on the prodding of jockey Manolito Daquis, the second favorite Red Star Rising came from behind to rule the big stake race covering 2,000 meters.

Red Star Rising, which sold P251,337 out of the P1,505,627 total sale, clocked 2:07 with quarter times of 25-24-26-25-26.

Red Star Rising and West Bound floated behind the front-runners early on before making their charge going into the last 200 meters, then figured in another classic down-to-the-wire battle.

Royal Catch, with jockey Val Dillema on top, paced the field three-fourth of the way with Free Wind and Buena Sera close behind.

"Sinundan ko lang si (West Bound rider) JB (Hernandez) sa labas. Pinapapunta niya ako sa loob, pero naglagi lang ako sa labas. Tapos diniretso ko na," said Daquis.— Ramon Romualdez