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Friday, March 29, 2024

Low Profile wins PCSO Anniversary Race

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STAGING a stunning upset over a track icon, Ruben Dimacuha’s Low Profile carved a decisive wire-to-wire win in the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Anniversary mile held last Sunday at Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite.

The 4YO bay colt steered by Mark Alvarez and trained by CM Vicente took the lead at the jump and ran in a relaxed fashion a length-and-a-half ahead of the favorite Hagdang Bato, who opted to run off-the-pace. They were followed four lengths back by Tap Dance, Messi, and Penrith.

Low Profile’s lead over the Jonathan Hernandez-guided Hagdang Bato shorted to half-a-length at the far turn. The latter rallied at the home turn but could not get past Low Profile, who gained his second wind down the stretch and pulled away to win by three under unnecessary mild whipping.

“[Alvarez] didn’t need to whip his mount, but he wanted to make sure,” said a racing insider. “But in the last 50 meters he was just waving his whip happily, paikot [showing off] na.”

Hagdang Bato was 2nd, Tap Dance 3rd, Penrith 4th, Messi 5th and last. Time: 1:39 (25’-23’-23’-26’). 

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The defeat was a crushing blow for Mayor Benhur Abalos’s Hagdang Bato, who had just come off an easy win in the Nov. 8 Marho Platinum-San Miguel Beer Classic also at Santa Ana Park, handily defeating the likes of Kanlaon, Biseng Bise, Hot and Spicy, King Bull, Marinx, and Manalig Ka.

That same day, Low Profile (Tribal Rule x Lacquaria) dominated the 2,000-meter Philippine Racing Commission Amb. Eduardo M. Cojuangco Jr. Cup. A proven frontrunner, the colt won in similar style—wire-to-wire by eight lengths over Messi, Tap Dance, and Eugenie, among others.

The PCSO Anniversary race had originally been set for Oct. 18, but was reset after races that day were cancelled because of Typhoon Lando.

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The Abalos stable did not go home empty-handed last Nov. 29, having earned a total of P1,087,500 in the in the 1,800-meter Philracom Sampaguita Stakes.

Their 4YO roan filly Malaya’s convincing win was worth P900,000, and her coupled entry  Never Cease placed third and earned P187,500.

Love Na Love 2nd, Marinx 4th, Cleave Ridge 5th and last. Time: 1:56 (13’-24’-25’-25-27’).

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Nov. 29, which saw the running of both the PCSO Anniversary Race and Sampaguita Stakes, was an action-packed day – it was also the staging of the 16th Philtobo Grand Championship Day. Elite horses competed in four major races—the Juvenile Fillies, Juvenile Championship (open), 3YO Colts and Fillies, and Classic. More on that next column.

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Philracom will be holding four stakes races in December, including the PCSO Presidential Gold Cup of which it is co-sponsor, as a windup of the year’s racing calendar.

Dec. 13, SLLP: PCSO Presidential Gold Cup, 2,000 meters; Philracom Juvenile Championship mile.

Dec. 20, Santa Ana Park: Philracom Chairman’s Cup mile.

Dec. 27, Metroturf: Philracom Grand Derby, 2,000 meters.  

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Facebook: Gogirl Racing, Twitter: @gogirlracing, Instagram: @jensdecember, Blog: http://jennyo.net

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