Boss Emong showed the field who’s the boss, stunning overwhelming pick Real Gold by half a length in a frantic finish marking the second leg of the Philippine Racing Commission’s 2019 Triple Crown series at the Saddle and Clubs Leisure Park in Naic, Cavite on Sunday.
The darkhorse winner in the seven-horse cast featuring some of the country’s best three-year-olds, trailed Best Regards at second halfway through the race and made its move in the final 600, with Jayz in tow.
Boss Emong grabbed the lead in the final straight, with Jayz gaining the edge for a split second, but the Dan Camanero-steered colt unleashed a final burst to regain the lead and stayed up front for the close victory denying the first-leg champion what could have been the second jewel in its Triple Crown goal.
“Sinunod ko lang po ang bilin nila boss, kung hindi kaya mauna, sunod sunod lang kami. Pero noong last 600, kinuha ko na,” said jockey Camanero. “May bisyo talaga itong si Boss Emong, humihinto kaya nakahabol ang iba pero tinodo ko na sa huli.”
The win was worth P1.8 million from the total guaranteed prize of P3 million for owner Edward Vincent Diokno, who personally received the champion’s trophy from newly appointed Philracom commissioner Aurelio De Leon and Victor Tantoco, Philippine Racing Club Inc. manager Oyet Alcasid Jr. and PRCI Handicapper Tony Selda.
Antonio Tan received the winning breeder’s prize of P100,000.
The JP A Guce-ridden Real Gold, which obliterated field during the first leg at the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite last month, came from the outside this time and nearly caught up with the leader, but fell short in the end as it settled for the runner-up purse of P675,000 for owner C&H Enterprises.
Jayz, ridden by JA Guce and owned by SC Stockfarm, pocketed the third-place purse of P375,000 in the race ran in 1,800 meters.
Meanwhile, My Jopay (jockey Pat Dilema) ruled the Philracom Hopeful Stakes and rewarded owner Moises Villasenor the champion’s purse of P600,000.
Two Timer (jockey JA Guce, owner Melaine Habla) placed second and clinched P225,000, while The Accountant (CP Henson, Luis Aguila) ranked third and got P125,000.
In the Philracom 3YO Locally Bred Stakes Race, the placings were My Shelltex (JB Guce, Antonio Tan Jr.), Silab (AR Villegas, Benjamin Abalos Jr.) and Weather Lang (JB Hernandez, Melaine Habla), winning P300,000, P112,500 and P62,500, respectively.
The final leg of the Triple Crown will be held at the MetroTurf in Malvar, Batangas on July 21, featuring the series’ longest route of 2,000 meters.
The three-leg series is patterned after the United States’ Triple Crown, with its three legs comprised of the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes, also with progressively longer distances.