THE opener of 11 races on the day, a Restricted Allowance IV run at 6½ furlongs, went to Noble Sovereign (7-2), ridden by Tajay Suckoo for owner/trainer Donovan Clarke. This was the first of three on the day for Suckoo. Interestingly, second past the post, Dont Tell Lou Lou (6-1), failing by a neck to make all, was partnered by visiting former Barbados champion Rocco Bowen who also had riding titles at American tracks Thistledown, Emerald Downs and Portland Meadows.

Bowen was also invited to be the guest speaker at the Jamaica Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Foundation A Night of Chmapions 3rd Annual Fundraising & Award Event, under the theme ‘Fostering Stable Relationships’, held at the Portmore Academy in Waterford, St Catherine, last Sunday evening.

Race two, a 7½-furlong event for high-claimers ($1.5-$1.2 million), went to 3-5 favourite Sonny T And Chippy who cantered in by over nine lengths, was declared by trainer Oral Hayden, and had 2023 champion reinsman Reyan Lewis aboard for the romp for the first of his riding double. In the Restricted Stakes seven-furlong race three, meanwhile, there was another wide-margin romp but it was within significant circumstances which have implications for major races in the second half of 2026.