Obra Maestra, 7 others clash in TC first leg

MANILA, Philippines — Eight of the country’s finest thoroughbreds led by undefeated Obra Maestra clash in the first leg of the Philippine Racing Commission (Philracom)-backed Triple Crown series Sunday at the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite.

“The Triple Crown is one of the most prestigious races in our racing calendar. Only the best horses get to run here,” said Philracom chairman Andrew Sanchez as he and his commissioners Bienvenido Niles Jr. and Dante Lantin graced the PSA Forum at the Amelie Hotel in Malate, Manila Tuesday morning.

Leading the Triple Crown’s powerhouse cast is Leonardo Javier Jr.’s Obra Maestra, the 2018 Horse of the Year and Champion 2YO of the Year by the Metropolitan Association of Race Horse Owners after earning P3.48 million in prizes.

“Obra Maestra is the favorite, but the other horses are also capable of winning because of the rating-based handicapping system the Philracom adopted to even out the playing field,” said Sanchez.

Out to give Obra Maestra a run for its money are Boss Emong (jockey JT Zarate, owner Edward Vincent Diokno); JAYZ (Ja Guce, SC Stockfarm, Inc.); My Jopay (RD Raquel Jr., Moises Villasenor); My Shelltex (JB Hernandez, Antonio Tan, Jr.); Real Gold (JP A Guce, C&H Enterprises, Inc.); Toy for the Bigboy (JB Cardova, Alfredo Santos) and Westeros (AR Villegas, Juan Miguel Yulo).