Go Army, Heaven Sent picked in MARHO classic

MANILA, Philippines –  Former Juvenile champion Go Army and speedball Heaven Sent start as overwhelming favorites against five other veterans in the P1.8-million Classic race, one of six highlight events climaxing the 15th San Miguel Beer-MARHO Cup Racing Festival today at the Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite.

With old reliable Jonathan Hernandez handling him, Go Army will go for his first stakes victory since coming off a leg injury that sidelined him for a few months and kept him out of the Triple Crown series last year.

With no Go Army to worry for in the 2009 “Triple”, Heaven Sent went on to capture the first and third legs both in wire-to-wire fashion under regular jockey RG Fernandez.

Native Land, the 2008 Presidential Gold Cup titlist, Defiant, Joshua’s Laughter, Shadow Strafze and Shining Fame round out the starters in the 2000-meter race, the main event of the week-long festival organized by the Metropolitan Association of Race Horse Owners and backed by San Miguel Beer, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and the Philippine Racing Commission.

The other five rich races to be disputed today are the PCSO Filly Mile, SMB Colt Mile, Philracom Juvenile Colts, Philracom Juvenile Fillies and the Santa Ana Sprint, all of them offering rich prizes and featuring prominent runners.

Another big name expected to get a lot of attention this afternoon is Yes Pogi, a top contender for the Philippine Sportswriters Association horse of the year award who won the first two legs of this year’s Triple Crown before losing the third to Carriedo in an exciting race which ended in a photo finish.

To be handled again by Racquel, Yes Pogi, a progeny of Rum Lum Tiger out of Belle Epoque, battles Gastambide, Thotis Best, Flair Bottons and Darleb in the Colt Mile as he comes off a big victory in the Klub Don Juan Derby at the San Lazaro Leisure Park in October.

Gastambide, the Hermie Esguerra-owned runner who’ll be ridden by John Paul Guce, is highly expected to provide a serious challenge to Yes Pogi, whom he has beaten a number of times when they were still juveniles.           

EJ’s Magic, to be handled again by Fernando Racquel, returns to defend the 1,000-m Sprint title against Lively Dude, Music King and Eternal Flame, the tested speedster who checked in a fighting second under Jesse Guce last year. 

Dimasalang, a promising horse from the Esguerra stable, is favored over seven others in the 1600-meter Juvenile Filly while Lord of War and Arvin Dugo are expected to set out as 1-2 picks in the Juvenile Colt race where four others are competing.