Union Bell proved to be the fastest sprinter among the country’s best two-year-old horses, ruling the 1st leg of the 2019 Philippine Racing Commission (Philracom) Juvenile Fillies and Colts Stakes Race by five lengths at the Saddle and Clubs Leisure Park in Naic, Cavite on Sunday.
Under the expert guidance of star jockey JB Hernandez, Union Bell (sire Union Rags, USA; dam Tocqueville, ARG) waited for the perfect time to take control and did so in the final 200 meters of the short 1,200-meter race as it burst into the finish with plenty to spare.
Make Some Noise, ridden by RO Niu Jr., and Lucky Savings, with jockey AR Villegas on board, placed second and third, respectively, in the stakes race featuring the Philippines’ top two-year-old horses and offering a total of P1,040,000 in prizes from the sponsoring Philracom.
“Okay naman ‘yung alis namin, maganda, segundo puwesto kaagad. Doon pa lang sa tres octavo, alam ko matulin na matulin na ‘yung grupo. ‘Yung kabayo ko gusto na lumaban, sabi ko sa rekta na lang,” said Hernandez, who notched his second straight win aboard Union Bell in as many races.
“Nanalo na kami dati, sa maiden race, pero ito ang pinakamalaking panalo ko with Union Bell so far,” said Hernandez, hoping their bond will lead to more wins in the future.
The victory, achieved in a minute and 11 seconds (23.4, 21.8, 25) netted Bell Racing Stable a cool P600,000, with owner Elmer de Leon on hand to receive the champion’s trophy from Philracom Commissioner Reli de Leon, Philippine Racing Club Inc. manager Oyet Alcasid and club handicapper Donnie Selda.
Make Some Noise received P225,000, while Lucky Savings took P125,000.
Other Sunday winners were Creme Brule (Race 1), Expensive (Race 2), Casino Royale (Race 4), Ainna’s Victory (Race 5), June 3 (Race 6), Indubitably (Race 7), Undercover (Race 8), Go Abbey Go (Race 9), Aim Thirty One (Race 10), Forest Cover (Race 11) and The Believer (Race 12).
Several big stakes races are still in the offing from Philracom in the coming months – such as the first leg of the 3YO Imported/Local Challenge on Oct. 20, followed by the 2nd leg of the Juvenile Fillies and Colts Stakes Races on Nov. 3, the Ambassador Eduardo M. Cojuangco Jr. Cup on Nov. 17 and the 2nd leg of the 3YO Imported/Local Challenge on Nov. 24.
December proves to be the busiest horseracing month for big races with the Philracom’s holding of the 3rd leg of the Juvenile Fillies and Colts Stakes Races on the 1st, 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.