IT’S going to be an action-packed Sunday (July 10) at the Manila Jockey Club’s San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite, with the staging of three 2,000-meter stakes races for 3YO backed by the Philippine Racing Commission and the Erap Cup Racing Festival.
The most prestigious of the three Philracom contests is the third leg of the Triple Crown series, which looks like an even-steven race given the lineup: Dewey Boulevard, Guatemala, Homonhon Island, Radioactive, and Underwood. No jockeys were named as of presstime. The drawing of post positions is on July 7.
The first leg was won by Radioactive, who was a longshot, with Underwood 2nd and Space Needle 3rd. Dewey Boulevard, sent off as a longshot in the first leg, avenged that loss by winning the second leg of the series, with Radioactive 2nd, Underwood 3rd, and Space Needle 4th. Given those outcomes, I’ll say Dewey Boulevard can repeat, but Radioactive and Underwood will try their best to score an upset.
The Philracom Hopeful Stakes will feature Indianpana, Mount Iglit, Pinagtipunan, Real Flame, Secret Kingdom, Space Needle, Tagapagmana, and Pinay Pharoah. Space Needle, who placed 3rd and 4th respectively in the first and second legs of the Triple Crown, might do better here, but will have to contend with stalwart Indianpana and Pinay Pharaoh who recently won a Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office race.
The Philracom 3YO Locally-Bred Stakes attracted three participants: Leave It To Me, Piskante, and Play It Safe. In line with PR 58-E, “…For stakes races, the minimum allowable number of declared entries is three horses. In case wherein the number of entries falls below this number on the actual day [because of scratches], the race shall still be run.” However, there will be no betting on this race. Just cheer for your favorite horse!
Also on July 10, MJC will host the 2nd Erap Cup Racing Festival in celebration of Araw ng Maynila (June 24). The highlight race, the 2,000-meter 2nd Erap Cup Open Championship has a purse of P2.5 million and will feature the horses Our Angel’s Dream, Kanlaon, Gentle Strength, Dixie Gold, Hayley’s Rainbow, Spinning Ridge, Up and Away, Penrith, Messi, and Don Albertini.
To be held as part of the festival are the Imported Championship mile with a P1 million purse, the 1,500-meter Araw ng Maynila 3YO Challenge Cup with P500,00 in prize money, and seven other races with guaranteed prize money of P300,000.
Racing fans, mark Sunday on your racing calendar as a can’t-miss day of speed and action!
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