El Patron safe in race seven

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

The Pick-9 again eluded punters at Caymanas Park on Wednesday and the carryover to tomorrow's meet stands at $2.5 million.

This should encourage heavier-than-usual betting and a first prize well in excess of $3 million looks a real possibility.

The Pick-9 will embrace races two to 10, the first Super-6 from race one to six, and the overlapping Super-6 from race five to 10.

We look at the second Super-6, which gets under way (fifth race) with a two-year-old maiden special over 800 metres (straight) to be contested by nine starters - all racing for the first time.

Quite a few of the youngsters are forward in condition, including the Richard Azan-trained BORDERLINE with leading jockey Dane Nelson aboard; EL REGALO to be ridden by champion jockey Dick Cardenas for trainer Anthony Nunes; and WHO GOES THERE with journeyman jockey Gary Santos riding for female trainer Margaret Parchment.

EDGE FOR BORDERLINE

All three have worked well and it could be close among them. BORDERLINE, who is a bay colt by Traditional out of Constant Girl, which makes him a full brother to the useful WINCHESTER (who runs in the first race), is given the edge, having worked well alongside stable-companion EDISON over the round five course on August 20, clocking 1:02.0.

The sixth race over 1400 metres for maiden 4-y-o and up should provide the promising TE QUIERO with his maiden win on this his second start.

He failed by only a length to catch RISING RAJ over the straight on August 11 and should stave of the stretch-running SKIPPING COOL and LITTLE CHUPS, both of whom are regaining form.

EL PATRON EXPECTED TO WIN

EL PATRON, who has been knocking at the door, gets the nod over the stable-companions CANTARE and ANTOINETTE in the seventh race for three-year-olds over 1500 metres in which 10 have been declared. And in the eighth race race over the straight for maiden three-year-olds, the well-prepared PREMIER RETURNS, well drawn on the stands' side with Shane Ellis up, is preferred to SOCIAL BUTTERFLY and VIBES MASTER in a field of 15.

Then, take the 2011 Lotto Classic (Governor's Cup) hero ERASMO with Cardenas aboard to win the ninth race over 2000 metres for the Kenneth Mattis OD Trophy (overnight allowance) in which only five will run. And close the programme with down-in-class BROTHER TO BROTHER ahead of CHECKITOUT and GUAN YU over 1400 metres.

SECOND SUPER-6 FANCIES

(5) BORDERLINE/EL REGALO

(6) TE QUIERO/SKIPPING COOL

(7) EL PATRON

(8) PREMIUM RETURNS/SOCIAL BUTTERFLY

(9) ERASMO

(10) BROTHER TO BROTHER/CHECKITOUT