Longshots rule first leg of Triple Crown Series

MANILA, Philippines - Longshots prevailed in the first leg of the Triple Crown Series yesterday at the MetroTurf in Malvar, Batangas, proving to all that the 2013 series is an open race among the best three-year-olds colts and fillies in the land today.

Divine Eagle (Tempestous Wind-Rose Bud), ridden by rising star jockey Mark Alvarez,  made a daring rally in the backstretch and caught up with the leading fourth-favorite Hot And Spicy in the last 200 meters.

The colt continued its searing drive towards the payoff and beat its nearest rival by a nose to win the whopping P1.8-million top prize for its owner Zenaida de Guzman. Trainer Conrado Vicente saddled the colt. Breeder Tito de Jesus received a bonus of P100,000.

Hot And Spicy, owned by Joseph Dyhengco and ridden by Jeffril Zarate, dictated the tempo right from the start and even erected a three-length lead at the far turn.

Divine Eagle, which was on third position, overtook the second-running Keep the Pledge when it stepped on the gas and started the chase for the leader at the top of the stretch.

The full-packed gallery at the country’s newest racetrack cheered wildly as Divine Eagle and Hot And Spicy ran almost as one in the last 200 meters and battled it out fiercely down the wire.

Divine Eagle stopped the clock at 1:36.8 (24’-22’-23’-26’) after the 1,600-meter journey.

The runner-up effort of Hot and Spicy (trainer by ReyHenson) was rewarded with P675,000.

Two other longshots Haring Benedict of Jordan Patrick Martinez came in third for P375,000 while fourth placer Captain Ball of Herminio Esguerra settled for P150,000.

Other finishers in this first leg of the 36th running of the Triple Crown Series, sponsored by the Philracom, include Grand Strikes Girl, Boss Jaden, Borj Khalifa, Spinning Ridge, the top favorite El Libertador, Keep The Pledge, and Be Humble in that order.

“MetroTurf would like to thank all the bayang karerista who supported these two prestigious Philracom-sponsored events. Those who watched them here at Malvar, Batangas and in the various off-track betting stations (OTBs) really enjoyed the action-packed races we had offered them today. MetroTurf promises to come up with more interesting races in the future,” said MetroTurf SVP Rudy Prado.

Earlier in the day, longshots also prevailed in the P1-million Hopeful Stakes, the support race for all 3-year-olds who did not join the main event.

Big Leg, owned by Patrick Uy (the same owner of 2001 Triple Crown champion Silver Story who is making a comeback in the local racing) and ridden by Jesse Guce, beat the rallying Daragang Magayon by a length to run away with the top prize of P600,000.

Conditioned by Boy Roxas, Big Leb, considered a seasoned colt with the way he participated in the local racing regularly the past one year, bolted into the lead in the backstretch after grabbing it from early pacesetter Sharpshooter.

From there, Big Leb put up a searing two-quarter run which left majority of his rivals gasping for air in the mad dash for home.

Smarting a three-length lead at the top of the stretch, Big Leb suddenly saw two horses rallying from the outer rail – Daragang Magayon and Jazz Connection – and fast closing in. But Big Leb had to dig deep into his tank and steamrolled to his biggest victory so far in his young career.

Runnerup Daragang Magayon of Herminio Esguerra settled for P225,000 while third placer Jazz Connection received P125,000 and fourth placer Cat’s Silver, the top choice, salvaged P50,000. Breeder Putch Puyat also received a P30,000 bonus.

Other finishers in this 1,600-meter race were Five Star, Big Boy Vito, Sharpshooter, Balbonic, Leonor, Flying Honor, and Nurture Nature in that order.