Mon | May 20, 2024

Poker Star back to top form

Published:Saturday | June 16, 2018 | 12:00 AMAinsley Walters
POKER STAR (left), with Omar Walker aboard, powering to victory in yesterday's 11th race at Caymanas Park.

POKER STAR outclassed rivals in yesterday's 1200-metre overnight allowance sprint, virtually making all the running to beat late-closing SOY EL SENOR by a length and a half.

The six-year-old bay gelding reproduced his recent exercise gallop to turn back pesky POLLY B before quickening at the top of the straight under jockey Omar Walker.

SOY EL SENOR closed best but was no match for Wayne DaCosta's POKER STAR, the 2015 Sprint champion, who posted a decent 1:13.0, signalling a return to form with his first victory in two years.

Anthony Nunes won two races on the 11-card, both ridden by Linton Steadman, SOTOMAYOR and AURELIA'S SUMMER, in the sixth and 10th races, respectively, but still trails DaCosta in the trainers' standings.

Anthony Thomas extended his lead over Shane Ellis in the jockeys' table to 13, booting home back-to-back winners - QUANTUM DANCER and MY ELLE BELLE - in the seventh and eighth races, respectively.

Racing continues at Caymanas Park on Saturday.