Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
BABY RENEE, with Dane Nelson aboard, heads to the winners' enclosure after her decisive victory in the ninth race over 1100 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday. Trained by Wesley Perkins, BABY RENEE won at odds of 4-1. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
THE IMPROVING American four-year-old colt CHARMING LUTHER completed a hat-trick at Caymanas Park yesterday with an all-the-way victory in the G.A. 'Sarge' Bucknor Memorial Trophy race for overnight allowance horses over the straight five course.
Ridden by smart apprentice Javour Simpson for owners New Blue Limited and trainer Richard Azan, CHARMING LUTHER (5-1) held on well by a length from 10-1 chance SUPER NATURAL with fellow apprentice Delroy Beharie aboard, followed by ESTOY LISTO (9-2) and DIESEL (6-1) in third and fourth places, respectively.
ADVANTAGE OF A LENGTH
The betting made Trevor Simpson's mount CHOSEN ONE (also owned by New Blue) an 8-5 favourite, despite rumours that he had taken in water the day before.
CHOSEN ONE was outsped by CHARMING LUTHER and SUPER NATURAL, before plodding home seventh in the 11-strong field.
CHARMING LUTHER angled across to the stands' side from early with SUPER NATURAL chasing in mid-track just ahead of DIESEL and 2-1 second favourite UNKNOWN VARIABLE.
As they galloped towards the furlong pole, CHARMING LUTHER held a length advantage over SUPER NATURAL and kept on strongly to maintain it to the wire, winning in near track record time of 57.1.
A dark bay colt by Bernstein out of Complete Charm, CHARMING LUTHER, who was bred in Kentucky, had previously won at a mile in restricted company on August 1 to be three in a row from seven starts.
RUNAWAY VICTORY
Earlier in the afternoon, young Simpson rode the first of two winners when MAMBO extended his streak with an impressive runaway victory in the mile and quarter renewal of the Monica Todd Memorial Cup for $160,000 claimers.
After disposing of pesky favourite SIR CHACHA BABA (6-5) at the halfway stage, MAMBO quickly turned it into a procession, scoring by the resounding margin of 15 lengths from 9-5 chance MANISH, who in turn was clear of the third horse MASS JOE (4-1) in a field of nine.
MAMBO, who won easily over 1500 metres on the previous Saturday, is owned by Nigel Mundell and trained by Andrew McDonald.
The runner-up MANISH was claimed for $160,000 by trainer Patrick Fong who on Friday was convicted in the Spanish Town R.M. Court for larceny of a racehorse valued at $1 million. Fong is out on bail and will be sentenced on December 22.
The 3-5 favourite SMOOTH DUDE, under a brilliant ride from champion jockey Brian Harding, made most to win the Lester Saunders Memorial Trophy 2-y-o race over 1400 metres in a thrilling finish from MY TRAIN (running on) and SHE'S OUTRAGEOUS (chased).
The winning distances were a neck by a neck. Seven ran.
The mushrooming Pick-9 again eluded punters and the carryover to next Saturday stands at a whopping $4.1 million.
