Owner Wehby has high hopes for Atomica

Racehorse owner Don Wehby says he is very confident that his outstanding three-year-old chestnut filly ATOMICA can emerge as the first Triple Crown winner for his family at Caymanas Park this year.

ATOMICA produced one of the most devastating performances ever in Caymanas Park Classic racing history by winning the Jamaica 1000 Guineas by 20 lengths last Saturday.

The Gary Subratie-trained filly, who was ridden by Dane Dawkins, outclassed the eight-horse field with excellent acceleration in the final furlong to win the race in a new stakes record time of one minute 37.00 seconds for the one-mile trip. ATOMICA erased the previous time, 1:37.2, which was set by THORNBIRD in 1984.

By Nuclear Wayne out of the Reparations mare Honkeytonkville, ATOMICA was winning her fifth race in a row

Wehby, the owner of Oakridge Farms, said his family has been in horseracing since 1958, and they have had many good horses over the years, but ATOMICA is the best horse they have ever owned.

“The plan is for her to go into the St Leger and how she runs the St Leger we will take it from there but based on what I am seeing here, she is definitely on track to be a Triple Crown winner,” said Wehby, who is also Group Chief Excecutive Officer of GraceKennedy Limited.

“She could be my first Derby winner, but I have been around racing for a very long time, and I know that you have to enjoy the victory and you have to be cautiously optimistic going forward,” he said.

“I am blessed because you only get a horse like this once in a lifetime. I have been at this for a long time, my dad has been at it since 1959. I am feeling very proud to have a horse like this,” Wehby said.

He pointed out that he was very surprised by ATOMICA’s performance in the 1000 Guineas because he did not expect her to win by such a huge margin.

“She is much better than I ever dreamt of. She is the best racehorse I have ever owned. She broke THORNBIRD’s stakes record at 1:37.00, and she made it look so easy. She is just unbelievable,” Wehby said.

He noted that Subraite has done a wonderful job with her, and he is hoping that she remains sound for the remainder of the Classic season. Wehby also paid tribute to veteran politician Karl Samuda, who is the breeder of ATOMICA.

“She is a fantastic horse, and Gary Subraite has done a wonderful job with her, and so I am happy beyond words,” Wehby said. “I have never seen Karl so happy. He is so elated because when you breed a horse like that you must feel fantastic,” he said.