Suckoo ends good weekend with win in Walker feature

LIGHTWEIGHT claiming rider Tajay Suckoo yesterday wrapped the weekend of racing at Caymanas Park with a runaway win aboard 4-5 favourite SHE’S THAT GIRL in the closing event for the Omar Walker Trophy, his fourth winner in two days, following a career-first three-timer on Saturday.

Let loose on the lead after zipping past STRIKE SMART, back-to-form SHE’S THAT GIRL, considered a classic hopeful two years ago before her stamina limitations were exposed in the Jamaica Oaks by front-running BANADURA, won easily with 107lb, her second race off a near nine-month lay-up.

SHE’S THAT GIRL tore away from STRIKE SMART and SMART TRICK, straightening clear of HUNTSMAN, who was afterwards relegated to third by late-running COOKIE DAY N NIGHT.

Clocking 1:06.4 on a track made fast by mid-afternoon rain, SHE’S THAT GIRL made light work of rivals, signalling she is back to her 2024 form when she had won three of four sprint events after testing the 10-furlong Jamaica Oaks.

The Sensational Slam-Palace Gold mare, now a five-year-old, will next face non-restricted overnight-allowance company, including horses sliding down from open-allowance on calendar conditions, which allow them to drop class should they not win a race at the level within six months.

Meanwhile, trainer Ryan Darby, once expected to fill the shoes of his late father, Robert Darby, as the ‘Claiming King’ of Caymanas Park, confirmed his comeback from two woeful seasons by saddling a three-timer on the nine-race card.

Darby’s winners were EAZY PEAZY, SUDDEN FLIGHT and ALL TOGETHER in the fourth, sixth and seventh, respectively, marking his best meet in years.

Earlier in the afternoon, champion local-bred two-year-old, WE JAMMIN, was run off his legs by United States-bred speedster, AMERICAN AVIATOR, in the second event at seven furlongs in 1:26.3 AMERICAN AVIATOR churned through slits of 23.4, 47.0 and 1:12.4 to which WE JAMMIN had no answer in the stretch run after trying to match the American three furlongs out.

The Ketch 9 mandatory payout returned $266,752.50 to winning tickets on the first meet of

March. Racing continues on Saturday, taking a break on Sunday, before the next dual weekend,

March 14-15.