Union Bell completed a sweep of the three-leg 2019 Philippine Racing Commission (Philracom) Juvenile Colts Stakes Race at the San Lazaro Leisure Park recently and declared its readiness to compete against the big guns in the Triple Crown Series next year.
Cementing its status as one fastest-rising young horses on the local racing scene, Union Bell made its move in the final 400 meters against a fading Lucky Savings and bolted to another emphatic victory in the 1,500-meter race, achieved in 1:34.6 with quartertimes of 18, 24, 25 and 27.
Union Bell (sire Union Rags, USA; dam Tocqueville, ARG), earned P1,200,000 for the Bell Racing Stable of owner Elmer de Leon from the Philracom’s total guaranteed purse of P2,000,000.
Lucky Savings (jockey Kevin Abobo, owner Antonio Coyco) settled for the runner-up purse of P450,000, while third placer Four Strong Wind (PM Cabalejo, Alfredo Santos) pocketed P250,000.
“Bale sunod lang, hinintay ko mag-ultimo kuarto, kasi kilala ko naman ‘yung kalaban ko na nauuna. Hinintay ko lang na may dumikit sa akin. Pagdating ng kuarto, nilapitan ko na, ‘yung rekta okay na,” said jockey Jonathan B. Hernandez.
“Masyado magaling ang kabayo ko. Ready na sa Triple Crown ito, mas matalas ito next year,” said Hernandez, who two races later, was again at the winners’ podium after steering Exponential in the Philracom Juvenile Fillies Stakes Race 3rd leg.
Owned by Raymund Puyat, Exponential (sire Algorithm, US; dam Rap, US) pulled off a five-length in the fillies’ category with a time of 1:36.6 (quartertimes of 18, 24, 26, 28 for the top purse of P1.2 million from the total pot of P2 million.
“Suwerte lang. Ang instruction sa akin, mauna ang coupled entry (Redhead Dancer). Bale mga tersera, kuatro puwesto lang. Paglampas ng tres octavo, kapag bandera pa ‘yung kakampi ko, rekta na lang kami maglaban. Sakto naman na ang layo ko, pangatlo sa huli. Bale safe ground, safe ground ako. Ultimo kuatro medyo traffic pa, pero noong nakalihis ako, ang tulin na ng kabayo ko sa rekta,” said Hernandez.
Carmela’s Fury (jockey JB Guce, owner Jose Antonio Zialcita ) and After Party (MM Gonzales, SC Stockfarm) earned P450,000 and P250,000 as runner-up and third placer, respectively.
December proves to be the busiest horseracing month for big races with the Philracom’s holding of the Grand Sprint Championship on the 15th, the Chairman’s Cup and the 3rd leg of the 3YO Imported/Local Challenge Series on the 29th and the Juvenile Championship on the 31st.