By Orville Clarke, Freelance WriterTHE FEATURE event at Caymanas Park today is the $330,000 - $290,000 claiming for the City of Kingston Centenary Cup over 1600 metres. Post time is 1:00 p.m. and 10 races are scheduled.
Only six have been declared for the feature but despite the small field, only MISSISSIPPI MARCH, in my book, can be safely ruled out.
PLEASANT WOOD from the stables of bang in form trainer Richie Todd could well start favourite, if only for the fact that he represents the genuine speed horse in this small field.
Stepping down from overnight to claiming company, he will have to be caught. True, he's yet to win at a distance in excess of 1400 metres, but judging from his seven length victory over that distance in the good time of 1:26.1 in November of last year, will last home if allowed to steal a march.
ROYAL FLIGHT, who threw in a clinker over a mile on March 1 when trained by Todd, returns under new management and having worked well for her new trainer Dwight Chen, has the ability to rebound from her convenient mark of 48kg.
Also in with a good chance is the grey OK DON, who as a three-year-old in 1999 won the 2000 Guineas trip and also the prestigious Toyota Cup as a two-year-old in 1998. Significantly, both were over today's distance of a mile.
OK DON has been pretty active at exercise in preparation for this trophy, goes well for jockey Elvis Murray and with trainer Fernando Geddes presenting the stretch running 7-y-o gelding in good condition, he cannot be taken lightly.
CRIMSON MAGIC has also caught the eye at exercise and on his best day, could take the honours. However, the one I like best is the Jackson Hong-trained RAPIDASH, who steps down from overnight allowance to high claiming to vie for this trophy.
Although best over two turns, RAPIDASH has won as short as 1400 metres in the not too distant past and will find a mile right up his street in present company. He has little to fear from the present opposition and given his fine turn of foot, should get up in time ahead of PLEASANT WOOD and OK DON.
Significantly, this is one of the more open races on which the mushrooming Pick-9 will be conducted.
With a whopping carryover of $12.2 million and some heavy betting expected today, Pick-9 sales should go though the roof, so to speak, and a $15 million payout to a lucky punter (or punters), looks a real possibility.
The Pick-9 monster has grown to gigantic proportions since the last one was caught way back on January 11.
With the fancied horses being routed left, right and centre in recent weeks, it has eluded punters for the past 14 racedays and whether it will be caught on Day 15 is left to be seen.
One thing is sure. Scores of big spenders will be coming all out for a piece of the action and Pick-9 sales should be in excess of $5 million today. The Pick-9 commences from the second race on the card.
Other firm Pick-9 fancies are SADALMELIK (too speedy for rivals) in the third, KERMIT (unlucky on last) in the 5th, SEXY (working well for her new trainer) in the 7th, TEMPTRESS (aimed too low) and in the closing straight five race (a knotty affair), the consistent course specialist LITTLE PALIUM over CRUCIAL TIMES and MEZZALUNA.
