The Platinum (20th) edition of the Metropolitan Association of Race Horse Owners Championships this weekend at Santa Ana Park features five major stakes races and 16 trophy races with hefty prizes.
On Saturday (Nov. 7), all 10 races are MARHO special trophy races with added P100,000 prizes to the winner if a MARHO member and P50,000 if a non-MARHO member.
On Sunday (Nov. 8), 13 races will be held: five MARHO Platinum stakes races, the Philippine Racing Commission Amb. Eduardo M. Cojuango Jr. (ECJ) Cup, Philracom Manila Police District race, and six MARHO special trophy races.
Millions in prizes have been put up for the 2,000-meter MARHO-San Miguel Beer Classic, MARHO-Santa Ana Park 3YO Colt and Filly Mile, MARHO-Philracom Juvenile Colts, MARHO-Philracom Juvenile Fillies, and MARHO-Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Sprint.
Mayor Benhur Abalos, owner of track icon Hagdang Bato, opted to run his champion in the MARHO-SMB Classic, which also features Biseng Bise, Hot and Spicy, Kanlaon, King Bull, Manalig Ka, and Marinx.
Declared for the P2 million, 2,000-meters ECJ Cup are Bentley, Eugenie, Low Profile, Messi, Oh Oh Seven, Penrith, Silver Sword, Strong Champion, and Top Dance. This is considered the championship race of of Philracom’s year-long import-local series.
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PCSO 2YO maiden trial race winner Mayor Sandy Javier’s Yongyong, sent off as second pick in the actual race held Oct. 31 at San Lazaro Leisure Park, proved that she was really the one to beat.
Under regular rider Jonathan Hernandez, Yongyong jumped cleanly out of the gate and ran off-the-pace a length behind Striking Colors guided by Jordan Cordova. The race was pretty much between the two, with their four other foes strung out behind, until the home turn when Hernandez asked the Ruben Tupas-trained Yongyong for more.
The pair rallied down the stretch to win by 1.5 lengths, posting 1:22.8 (7-24’-24’-26’) for the filly-full 1,300-meter race. Places: 2nd Striking Colors, 3rd Yes Kitty, 4th Ellie’s Charm, 5th Guanta Na Mera, and last, the lone colt, Purging Line.
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The PCSO Racing Committee held a trial race last Oct. 30 at Metroturf for its Nov. 14 2YO Open Maiden race.
Dance Again under Patricio Dilema came in first, posting 1:27.6 for 1,400-meters. Behind them arrived, in order: Love Hate (very close), Queen Cheetah, Johnny Be Good, Tagapagmana, Absoluteresistance, Nothing But Dtruth, Guatemala, and Eagle One.
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American Pharoah cemented his status as one of the sport’s all-time greatest horses by winning the Breeders Cup Classic last Oct. 31 at Keeneland and breaking the track record by five seconds.
This year’s Triple Crown champion avenged his loss in the Travers Stakes with his 6.5 length victory in the BC Classic, finishing the one mile, two furlong (2,000-meter) race in a fraction over 2:00, crushing the previous track record of 2:05.36 set a year ago.
The Grand Slam of racing comprises the Triple Crown races—Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes—and the BC Classic. American Pharoah is the first horse to attain the Grand Slam since the BC was established in 1984.
He is also the first horse in 37 years to sweep the Triple Crown. Only 12 horses, including him, have achieved that honor since 1919.
The colt owned by Zayat Stable has been retired to Coolmore Stud and will start breeding in February 2016 for an estimated stud fee of $200,000.
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