Velasquez sweeps weekend trophy races

PANAMANIAN Ismael Velasquez yesterday completed a weekend sweep of trophy races at Caymanas Park, rallying even-money favourite GEOLITHIC to beat fellow American SHE’S A GODGIFT by a length and a quarter in the Bonnie Blue Flag Trophy.

Velasquez, who made all aboard United States-bred PACK PLAYS in Saturday’s Eileen Cliggott Memorial at five and a half furlongs, similarly used GEOLITHIC’s speed to run rivals into the ground at seven and a half furlongs.

Breaking sharply from post-position nine in the 12-horse line-up, GEOLITHIC needed minimal urging to clear the field and claim the rail after the first two furlongs.

Flashing past the half-mile marker on her bridle, five-year-old GEOLITHIC raced clear of SHE’S A GODGIFT, previously a tearaway sprinter, since tempered by removal of her visor.

Still in command coming off the home turn, GEOLITHIC drifted right a furlong and a half out, losing ground to SHE’S A GODGIFT, who was switched inside to launch a menacing challenge inside the final furlongs.

However, straightened by Velasquez, GEOLITHIC responded by lengthening strides close home to actually win going away from SHE’S A GODGIFT, notching her fourth win from 14 starts, a victory that graduated her to overnight-allowance winners.

Champion jockey Raddesh Roman rode his first two-timer of the season. He produced a well-timed run win with BRENDA BOY to nab TITAN TEMPO in the second event at a mile. Roman closed his two-timer aboard SENSATIONAL SOUL in the seventh among three-year-old maidens for trainer Gary Subratie. Subratie had earlier posted LINSTEAD MARKET as a winner among four-year-olds maidens at five and a half furlongs.

Racing continues on Saturday.