No favorites in first leg of Triple Crown

MANILA, Philippines - In what promises to be one of the most competitive Triple Crown championship series in years, 13 top class three-year-old horses are set to vie for the first leg of local horse racing’s grand slam today at the new Saddles and Clubs Leisure Park in Naic, Cavite.

Nine colts and four fillies vie for the P1.8-million winner’s purse out of the P3-million prize pot in the 1,600m race sponsored by the Philippine Racing Commission.

The first leg Triple Crown contenders include Batangas Baron, Boni’s Gem, Boudica, Creation, Dream Supreme, Go Navy, Heaven Sent, Iconic, Lively Dude, Mr. Akino, Mr. Diamond, Virgin Liberty and Windbeneathmywings.

The absence of a clear favorite could perhaps be best exemplified by the result of four Triple Crown lead-up races since March, which all produced different winners.

Unheralded Dream Supreme pulled off a huge victory in the Chairman’s Cup, followed by a similarly pulsating come-from-behind victory by Virgin Liberty in the Aquamarine II Stakes. Heaven Sent dominated her division anew in the Diamond III Stakes for fillies while Boni’s Gem scored a major upset victory in the Diamond II Stakes for colts.