The veteran campaigner watched Wild Orchid and Real Spicy fight it out in a thrilling duel majority of the 2,000-meter race, then made her move at the far turn when her two fancied rivals began to lose steam.
By the time they reached the homestretch for the second time, it was crystal clear that Stowaway Lass would become the winner with jockey Val Dilema easily steering his mount past a sputtering Wild Orchid to bag the top P600,000 purse for the Atienza stable.
She was timed 2:04.5, shattering Wild Orchid’s previous best of 2:05 registered during the Don Juan derby last Oct. 16.
Real Spicy, drawn to an early battle with Wild Orchid in their battle for the inner rail, was the first to fade out, losing steam at the far turn and leaving the top favorite alone in front.
But Stowaway Lass came rushing down with a big run and swept past Wild Orchid in the last 200 meters to win pulling away. — R. Romualdez