A powerhouse 11-horse cast, led by Disyembreasais and Speedmatic, test their staying power in the 2018 Philippine Racing Commission’s Chairman’s Cup on Sunday at the Saddle and Clubs Leisure Park in Naic, Cavite.
Disyembreasais, which pulled off a two-length victory at the 2018 Philracom ‘Lakambini Stakes Race’ only last September, is the prohibitive favorite in the race held in honor of the late Philracom Chairman Benedicto Kalaw Katigbak, the “Millenium Transition Chairman,” who was head of the commission from 1998 to 2001.
To be ridden again by jockey JB Cordova, the top filly, which is owned by Alfredo Santos, with Edwin M. Vittali and Sandy Javier as trainer and breeder, respectively, will be shooting for the top purse of P1,200,000 from the guaranteed total prize of P2,000,000.
Second placer gets P400,000, while third and fourth placer receive P250,000 and P100,000, respectively, with P70,000 going to the breeder of the winning horse.
Fierce competition to Disyembreasais in the long 2,000-meter distance will be provided by the Hermie Esguerra-owned Speedmatic (jockey FM Raquel), which ruled last year’s Philracom Juvenile Fillies Stakes Races.
Others standing in the way of the two favorites are coupled entries Courageous (jockey RM Garcia) and Sheer (Val R. Dilema), both owned by Narciso Morales; Box Office (Jockey Kevin Abobo, owner SC Stockfarm), Critical Moment (JA Guce, Melaine Habla); Doktora (CV Garganta, Juan Miguel Yulo), Goldsmith (RG Fernandez, Cipriano Sison); Smell My Tail (MB Pilapil, Mark Vincent Geron); Super Sonic (JB Guce, Sandy Javier); and The Barrister (MA Alvarez, Daniel Tan).
Meanwhile, the cast for the Philracom 3YO Open, which will also be run in 2,000 meters, isn’t pushover either with Pride of Laguna (jockey JD Juco, owner Emmanuel Santos) hoping to earn bragging rights in the five-horse field,
Joining the fray in the 3YO race, which offers a total prize of P1.5 million, are Born in April (JB Cordova) of Jade Bros. Farms and Livestock, Brown Sister (RD Raquel Jr.) of Joy Raymundo, I Love Jane (CP Henson) of Francisco Babon and Viva Morena (Dan Camanero) of Bienvenido Pierre Niles Jr.
A top purse of P900,000 awaits the champion of the 3YO race, with the runner-up getting P337,500 and the third and fourth placers, pocketing P187,500 and P75,000, respectively.
“Racing fans are in for a treat with these select cast of winners,” said Philracom Chairman Andrew A. Sanchez. “Some of the industry’s best runners are running and so we can anticipate another exciting show for Filipino racing fans.”
Meanwhile, the racing season concludes with the 3rd leg of the 3YO Open Challenge Series on Dec. 31, also at the Saddle and Clubs Leisure Park in Naic, Cavite.
