Victorious Colt claims Triple Crown 3rd leg

MANILA, Philippines — Victorious Colt put on a charge midway through the lung-busting race and foiled Smart Candy and Wonderland to rule the third and final leg of the Philippine Racing Commission’s Triple Crown series at Santa Ana Park, Saddle and Clubs in Naic, Cavite last Sunday.

The JA Zialcita-owned stallion got his second wind to zoom past the winners of the series’ first two legs halfway through the 2,000-meter race then galloped home to an emphatic five-length victory worth P1.8 million.

First-leg winner Smart Candy nipped second stage victor Wonderland to post its second TC runner-up finish with Prosperity ending up fourth.

Oneal Cortez proved to be the perfect partner for Victorious Colt as they both managed to dominate the wet track for the horse’s biggest jewel in a young career.

For a while, Smart Candy and Wonderland appeared headed for a fierce duel until Victorious Colt made a big run at the middle turn, catching up the two and outduelling them in a short battle before breaking away from the pack.

Smart Candy settled for P675,000 runner-up purse while Wonderland and Prosperity took P375,000 and P150,000, respectively.

In the P1-million 2018 Philracom Hopeful Stakes Race, Talitha Koum also pulled off a big upset by beating Eli Brassous and The Best Ever while The Barrister topped the 3YO Locally Bred Stakes Race, foiling Smell My Tail and Courageous.