Stranger Danger fires warning shot!

STRANGER DANGER issued a Gold Cup warning to all and sundry yesterday, getting within a second and a fifth of Sky Train’s seven and a half furlong track record, which has stood since 1983, one of the oldest at Caymanas Park.

Prepping for the August 31 Gold Cup at seven furlongs, United States-bred STRANGER DANGER clocked 1:30.3 in an 11-length win under Omar Walker, carrying 126lb, whereas SKY TRAIN had 98lb with Everton Miller 36 years ago.

In what should be an epic clash, Wayne DaCosta’s STRANGER DANGER will square off with stablemate SHE’S A MANEATER and possibly another importee, Ralph Porter’s SPARKLE DIAMOND, in the Gold Cup, one of the biggest handicap events on the local-racing calendar.

Walker and DaCosta teamed up to land the O & S Tack Room co-feature with 1000 Guineas runner-up LADY BLUE, who took the rail route into the straight to collar 14-1 outsider TOP SHELF inside the last half-furlong, winning at odds of 2-1 by a half-length.

Narrowly win

TOP SHELF had shot to the lead past long-time leader BOLD AFLAIR in the stretch run and was stealing home before Walker produced LADY BLUE along the rail to narrowly win the six and a half furlong event.

UNIVERSAL BOSS, the 1-2 favourite, raced prominently down the backstretch but found the pace too hot and had to be rushed off his legs to stay in touch, eventually flattening out to third place after entering the straight wide.

Walker moved to 52 wins with his two-timer, maintaining third spot in the jockeys’ standings, 10 ahead of defending champion Anthony Thomas, who also rode two winners, UNCLE VERNON and JAMAI RAJA, in the third and sixth races, respectively.

Leading rider Christopher Mamdeen and his fellow apprentice, second-place Reyan Lewis, traded victories in the eighth and ninth races, winning aboard CASUAL DRINK and FLOWERS THIRTY, respectively.

Racing continues at Caymanas Park on Saturday.