The John O'Brien-trained three-year-old unbeaten filly In The Headlines, ridden with superb confidence by Tristan Phillips, showed that she was the best three-year-old in training when she cantered away from stable-companion Hello World in the Arima Business Association - Midsummer Classic over 1,800 metres on the main track at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, on Tuesday - Emancipation Day.
The race was scheduled for the turf track but the incessant rainfall gave the Arima Race Club (ARC) management no other choice but to shift the event.
The Ladies Stables-owned In The Headlines was made the 3-5 favourite by punters and turfites alike, to win her fourth race in as many starts. Hello World who was unbeaten going into this event had to settle for the runner-up spot after eight months of being off the race track. Hello World was made the 8-5 second betting favourite with Theory of Colours next in the betting at 3-1.
However, the betting proved to be correct as the first three horses in the betting finished in that order. In the Headlines first, Hello World second and Theory of Colours, third.
The race lost some of its flavour with the withdrawal of three horses from the event. Those who were scratched were the highly-regarded Firecracker from the Glenn Mendez stable, and the two Jose William-Samaroo horses Mike JR and Miss Sunak.
When the six horses arrived at the starting gates for the second jewel of local racing's Triple Crown, In The Headlines and Hello World outlooked their rivals. However when the six horses left the starting stall, the favourite In The Headline was first to show, she was tracked by Harts Gap with Angry Bird close up in third, Theory of Colours in fourth with Hello World and Nobel Abrego tracking in fifth and Beep Beep last.
Going down the back-straight, Harts Gap took over at the front end but only on sufferance as confident Phillips allowed the daughter of Headline News to cruise comfortably into the lead with 800m to race from Harts Gap as Abrego sent Hello World up to close on the leader as Theory of Colours kept pace.
However, at the far turn, the shape of the race changed as Phillips let out an inch of rein and the daughter of B'S Passion cruised easily into a two-length lead from Hello World as Theory of Colours moved into a challenging position.
The loud roar which was heard as In The Headlines turned into the straight with a three-length lead was something worth watching as the filly galloped up the straight in tremendous fashion to win, eased down at the line by 5 1/4 lengths. Hello World showed grit on his return and stayed on, to the line. Harts Gap past the post in the fourth position for trainer Ramesh Ramroop.
In The Headlines registered the time of 2:03.2 for the trip. She is the only filly who can win the Triple Crown.
Champion trainer O'Brien was the day's leading trainer saddling three winners from the seven-race card. O'Brien landed Princess Royal in the second and this filly won by 15 lengths before landing In The Headlines and Crown Prince in the finale.
Riding honours were shared between Phillips, Abrego and Omar Mohammed who all rode two winners apiece.
Live racing returns on August 31, Independence Day.
DAY 9 RESULTS
R1: XTRA FOODS MODIFIED BENCHMARK HANDICAP - 1,200M - $13,900
1*(2)*Man On Fire*O Mohammed*54*
2*(3)*Fulfill*J Boodramsing*57*
3*(5)*El Chapo*T Phillips*54*
4*(4)*Pure Strike*D Khelawan*55.5*
TIME: 1:17.1 DISTANCES: 2 3/4; 3 1/2; 6 1/2; 10
$1PARI: (2) $3.35
$1EXACTA: $7.35
TRIFECTA: $23.40
SUPERFECTA: $28.30
WINNER: 10y.o. B gelding - Louisvilleluminary/Joan Of Arc (Freshly Squeezed)
OWNER: Dale Kalloo TRAINER: J Rampersad
BREEDER: David Ojar
ALSO RAN: 5. Ziah J Millien 56
NON-RUNNER: Perfect Score
R2: MODIFIED BENCHMARK HANDICAP 3 YO AND OVER HORSES RATED 25-0 - 1,350M - $13,900
1*(4)*Princess Royal*N Flavenney*52.5*
2*(3)*JCPeyton*D Butcher*56*
3*(6)*Empress Hassan*J Boodramsing*58*
4*(2)*Atta Girl Silvy*T Phillips*54*
TIME: 1:55.4: DISTANCES: 15 1/2; Neck; Sh.Head; 45 1/2; 21 1/4
$1PARI: (4) $1.85; $1.90; (3) $2.05
$1EXACTA: $5.40
TRIFECTA: $36.05
SUPERFECTA: $38.05
WINNER: 3 y.o. CH filly - J'Ourvert/Always a Princess(Charismatic Cat)
OWNER: Raroma Stable TRAINER: J' OBrien
BREEDER: Rajendra Maharajh
ALSO RAN: 5.Emotional Damage D Khelawan 57; 6. Dusty Rose J Arneaud 57.
R3: CASTRO'S RESTAURANT AND SPORTS BAR MODIFIED BENCHMARK HANDICAP (DIV 11) - 1,600M - $13,900
1*(7)*Davindra*N Abrego*58.5*
2*(6)*Blinding Lights*O Mohammed*54.5*
3*(1)*Little Lady*T Phillips*52.5*
4*(2)*Perfect Saint*J Boodramsing*54.5*
TIME: 1:55.1 DISTANCES: 10 1/4, 2, 22, 1/2, 12 3/4.
$1PARI: (7) $3.25; $1.30; (6) $1.20
EXACTA: $3.95
TRIFECTA: $7.85
SUPERFECTA: $31.55
WINNER: 4 y.o. B colt - Da Vinci/The Big Squeeze (Big Country)
OWNER: Crystal Balladin TRAINER: M Lutchman
BREEDER: Sieusankar Maraj
ALSO RAN: 6. Mona Lisa D Khelawan 54.
NON-RUNNER: Schwarzenegger
R4: ZAM INDUSTRIES LIMITED MODIFIED BENCHMARK HANDICAP - 1,200M - $14,400
1*(3)*C'Est La Vie*O Mohammed*58*
2*(8)*Manos Ariba*K Chandler*57*
3*(2)*Shareef*J Boodramsing*56.5*
4*(7)*Magnifico*D Khelawan*54*
5*(5)*Alpha Centauri*N Flavenney*53.5
TIME: 1:13.3 DISTANCES: 3, 4 1/2, Sh.Head, 2 1/4, Neck, 2, 6.
$1PARI: (3) $3.55; $;1.50: (8)2.65; (2) $2.35
$1EXACTA: $129.95
TRIFECTA: $1,626.10
SUPERFECTA: $6,428.35
HI-5: $6,419.80
WINNER: 5 y.o. CH filly B mare - Signal Alert/Sound Barrier (Private Banker)
OWNER: D & DR Stables TRAINER: J Rampersad
BREEDER: Paradise Farms Limited
ALSO RAN: 6. Twitter King T Phillips 54.5; 7. Prince Connor D Butcher 53.5; 8. Davinci Code N Abrego 56.
R5: MASLOWS CONTRACTING LIMITED MODIFIED BENCHMARK HANDICAP -1,350M - $17,700
1*(2)*Supremacy*D Khelawan*53*
2*(3)*Blue Agave*N Abrego*58.5*
3*(7)*Leonardo Angel*D Butcher*53.5*
4*(6)*Smooth Sailing*N Mohammed*52*
TIME: 1:23.1 DISTANCES: 6 3/4, 1 1/4, 3/4, 2 1/2, 23 3/4.
$1PARI: (2) $2.60; $1.10; (3) $1.05;
$1EXACTA: $4.10
TRIFECTA: $10.70
SUPERFECTA: $18.60
WINNER: 6 y.o DK B gelding - Settlen Up/Caro's Legacy (Whywhywhy)
OWNER: Laurence Berment TRAINER: M Lutchman
BREEDER: Paradise Farms Limited
ALSO RAN: 5. Star Of Wonder T Phillips 53; 6. Comandante J Boodramsing 53
NON-RUNNER: Just Exhale
R6: ARIMA BUSINESS ASSOCIATION MIDSUMMER CLASSIC (GR I R) - 1,900M - $91,000
1*(3)*In The Headlines*T Phillips*54*
2*(8)*Hello World*N Abrego*57*
3*(6)*Theory Of Colours*N Mohammed*54*
4*(5)*Harts Gap*J Boodramsing*56*
TIME: 2:03.2 DISTANCES: 5 1/4, 4, 3, 19 1/4, 28.
$1PARI: (3) $1.75; $1.15; (8) $1.50;
$1EXACTA: $2.30
TRIFECTA: $3.20
SUPERFECTA: $11.05
WINNER: 3y.o. CH filly - Headline News/B's Passion (Precise Sweep)
OWNER: The Ladies Stables TRAINER: J O'Brien
BREEDER: Mrs Diane Scott
ALSO RAN: 5. Angry Bird O Mohammed 55.5; 6. Beep Beep K Chandler 55.
NON-RUNNERS: Mike Jr, Firecracker, Miss Sunak
R7: WEALTHY COLOURS LIMITED MODIFIED BENCHMARK HANDICAP - 1,350M - $18,200
1*(10)*Crown Prince*N Abrego*57*
2*(9)*Soca Harmony*T Phillips*53.5*
3*(6)*Top Of The Game*N Flavenney*52.5*
4*(7)*Princess Aruna*O Mohammed*54.5*
5*(5)*General JN*J Arneaud*60*
TIME: 1:21.4 DISTANCES: 3, 8 1/2, Sh.Head, 1 3/4, 1 1/2, 1 1/2
$1 PARI: (10) $2.40; $1.35; (9)$1.35; (6) $1.65;
$1 EXACTA: $2.85
TRIFECTA: $21.90
SUPERFECTA: $70.70
HI-5: $126.20
WINNER: 4 y.o. CH gelding - J'Ourvert/Always A Princess (Charismatic Cat)
OWNER: Raroma Stable TRAINER: J O'Brien
BREEDER: Rajendra Maharajh
ALSO RAN: 6. Finishing Touch N Mohammed 52.5; 7. Marvel Vigor D Khelawan 55.5; 8. News Flash K Chandler 56; 9. Cool Cat J Boodramsing 56.5.
NON-RUNNERS: Pawan Putra, Making Headlines