Thu | Mar 28, 2024

Thomas shines before the rain at Caymanas

Published:Monday | September 28, 2020 | 12:16 AMAinsley Walters/Gleaner Writer
BUCKALUCK (right), ridden by Anthony Thomas, wins the Norman Manley Memorial Cup over SMOKEY TOPAZ, ridden by Roger Hewitt, at Caymanas Park yesterday.
BUCKALUCK (right), ridden by Anthony Thomas, wins the Norman Manley Memorial Cup over SMOKEY TOPAZ, ridden by Roger Hewitt, at Caymanas Park yesterday.

RAIN brought a halt to the weekend’s Anthony Thomas show at Caymanas Park, the ninth and final race abandoned with the 2018 champion rider sealing a five-timer from eight events.

Thomas’ five-timer included a hat-trick for 18-time champion trainer Wayne DaCosta to complete a weekend rout of eight wins, racing seven clear of Dane Nelson atop the jockeys’ standings.

Thomas started the weekend one win behind three-time champion Nelson, who, for three consecutive meets, failed to ride a winner.

Nelson, partnering UNCLE FRANK, was on the receiving end of Thomas’ five-timer, outfinished by stablemate SUMMER SUN, who rallied in the eighth event at a mile after both caught SUPERLUMINAL a furlong out.

SUMMER SUN, a 5-2 chance, closed the hat-trick for Thomas and DaCosta, which started with 2-5 favourite FEARLESS CHAMPION, followed by two-year-old DEN STREET, who ran past stablemate SUPER DUPER a furlong out to complete back-to-back wins at five and a half furlongs.

Thomas was also hot for trainer Steven Todd, for whom he rode two winners, opening the programme with even-money favourite UNBREAKABLE, and won the Norman Manley Memorial Cup astride 5-2 chance BUCKALUCK.

Racing continues at the weekend with another Saturday-Sunday meet, which opens with a new-look opening Pick-6, dubbed the Reggae Six, a single-winner bet conducted on the first six races, carrying a first-day guaranteed jackpot of $3 million.

The guaranteed jackpot is $2 million thereafter with mandatory-payout dates.

ainsley.walters@gleanerjm.com