SENT off as the outstanding favorite, Low Profile claimed the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Freedom Cup last Feb. 28 at Metroturf.
Low Profile, the Philippine Racing Commission 2015 Horse of the Year, crushed five foes to earn the P800,000 purse for owner Ruben Dimacuha.
Tap Dance ran off the pace to the frontrunning Low Profile but faded in the middle stage, allowing Kanlaon to press Low Profile for the lead.
But Low Profile (Tribal Rule x Lacquaria), guided by Mark Alvarez and trained by Dodek Vicente, proved too powerful and won wire-to-wire by eight lengths.
Biseng Bise 2nd, Kanlaon 3rd, and Tap Dance 4th. Time for the mile: 1:36.4 (24.4-23-23.2-25.8).
* * *
That same day, Herminio Esguerra’s Manalig Ka ruled the Philracom 4YO and Older stakes race likewise as the top choice.
Sharpshooter led for most of the 1,400-meter race, paced by Mabsoy. It wasn’t until the far turn that Manalig Ka’s jockey Fernando Raquel Jr. stepped on the gas, engaging Mabsoy in a frantic race down the stretch to win by an impressive three lengths.
Mabsoy 2nd, Hugo Bozz 3rd, Icon 4th. Time: 1:24 (13-21’-23-26’).
Present at the awarding ceremony were Philracom commissioners Ramon S. Bagatsing Jr., Wilfredo J. de Ungria (both lawyers), and Lyndon Noel Guce.
Manalig Ka (Real Spicy x Tatler Cover) also won the Philracom 1,400-meter 1st leg Import/Local Challenge last Feb. 14 at San Lazaro Leisure Park with the same rider.
* * *
Silhouette finished three lengths ahead of Indianpana last Feb. 26 at Santa Ana Park in the trial race for the PCSO 3YO Open maiden.
Reined by Fernando Raquel Jr., Silhouette stopped the clock at 1:20.6 for 1,300 meters, beating Indianpana to the wire by less than a second.
The other finishers were, in order: Tapped It, Lollipop, World Famous, Clean Time, Big Cat Drama, and Wolverine.
The actual race will be held at the same track on Mar. 12.
* * *
In a faceoff of the entries of two young horseowners, James Albert Dichaves’s Holly Bear won the mile Philracom charity race last Feb. 25 at Santa Ana Park, edging out Migs Almeda’s Love To Death.
Don Albertini 3rd, Our Angel’s Dream (also owned by Dichaves) 4th. Time: 1:42. The race benefits the Baco, Oriental Mindoro shelter rehabilitation program.
In the Philracom-Santa Ana Park Freedom Day Cup the same day, Tek Heng Chua’s Puting Biyaya outran seven others over a mile. Lady Leisure 2nd, Real Talk 3rd, Spinning Light 4th. Time: 1:43.8.
* * *
To augment the low racehorse population, Philracom eased restrictions on the racing of imported horses.
Resolutions 6-2016 and 13-2016, said Philracom Chairman Andrew A. Sanchez, “will level the playing field among participating horses” and also “ease the burden on horseowners” who have invested in acquiring horses from abroad.
A large pool of horses is necessary for exciting and fair races that will attract racing fans and sustain the sport.
While there is an average of 2,000 registered racehorses each year, not all of them race at any one time. About a third of them are sidelined throughout the year because of injury, illness, suspension or other penalty, or on spell. There is also attrition due to poor performance, age, death, or other causes.
The new rules shall be effective for five years, after which they are subject to review.
* * *
Facebook: Gogirl Racing, Twitter: @gogirlracing, Instagram: @jensdecembe