It was an action-packed weekend of racing last Dec. 15 at 16 at the Philippine Racing Club, Inc.’s Santa Ana Park with the staging there of the 19th Philtobo Grand Championships.
The event, put on annually by the Philippine Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Organization, provides participants with opportunities to run elite runners in big-money races.
All 10 races on Saturday were ratings-based handicapping system races and had added prizes with additional prize money for winning Philtobo members. The 12 races on Sunday were a mix of trophy races with added prizes and stakes races with guaranteed prizes.
Sunday kicked off with the 3rd leg of the Philracom 3YO Open Challenge as the first race. Five runners competed over 2,000 meters, with the favorite Pride of Laguna bagging first place and a purse of P900,000. The bay filly won by two lengths with a time of 2:04.8 Pride of Laguna is owned by Manny Santos, trained by RC Hipolito, and was ridden by jockey JD Juco. 2nd Viva Morena, 3rd ILove Jane, 4th Born in April.
In Race 4, the SC Stockfarm, Inc. 2YO Stakes Race, the John Alvin Guce-guided Royal Bell prevailed by half-a-length and clocked 1:19 over 1,300 meters. The bay colt earned P300,000 for owner Bell Racing Stable. Trainer is Donny Sordan. 2nd Toy for the Bigboy, 3rd Serafina, 4th Back to Original.
Race 6 was the Philracom Chairman’s Cup, with this year’s edition in honor of past chairman Benedicto K. Katigbak. Jesse Guce steered the favorite, Mayor Sandy Javier’s Supersonic, to a two-length win over Box Office in the 2,000 meter race. The 3YO bay colt stopped the clock at 2:04.8 and earned P1.2 million. Trainer is Ruben S. Tupas. 3rd Critical Moments, 4th Sheer.
Race 9 was the Philtobo-Philracom Juvenile Championships, won by the favorite Lady Mischief by a length over Full of Grace. The time for the mile race was 1:41. 3rd Mood Swing (coupled entry of Lady Mischief), 4th Cinderella. Lady Mischief, owned by SC Stockfarm, trained by CM Vicente, and ridden by Kelvin Abobo, earned P1.8 million for its effort.
Philtobo’s major sponsors were Philippine Racing Commission and PRCI. Other sponsors were PAGCOR, Bingson Tecson, SC Stockfarm, lawyer Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II’s Dos Ranchos Jofero, racing goods supplier ACGS, JS Rabano Construction and Supply, and lawyer Narcisco Morales.
Congratulations to Philtobo’s officers and members for another successful championships event!
* * *
The remaining big races for the year are the Philracom 5th leg 4YO and Older Stakes at Metro Turf on Dec. 23, and the Philracom Juvenile Championship on Dec. 31.
To all the readers of THW, racing fans, and sports enthusiasts, have yourself a happy Christmas, and may your holidays be merry and bright!
* * *
Dr. Ortuoste has been a member of the racing community for over 20 years. FB: Gogirl Racing, Twitter: @drhoarsewhsprr, @DrJennyO
