Calculus pulls off Mark My Word plans in fine style

CALCULUS BENEFITED from an expected speed attack on RUNAWAY ALGO to collar the quick United States-bred colt a half-furlong out in yesterday’s Mark My Word Trophy, winning his third route race in a month.

Last year’s Jamaica Derby winner, CALCULUS needed help to keep RUNAWAY ALGO honest on the lead, assistance which came from speedsters MAKEUPARTIST and SHE’S A WONDER, who blasted from the gate to keep the foreigner third heading into the clubhouse turn.

RUNAWAY ALGO went past MAKEUPARTIST five furlongs out but was forced off his bridle leaving the half-mile marker by SHE’S A WONDER’s renewed challenge along the rail.

Swallowing the bait, Christopher Mamdeen urged RUNAWAY ALGO to peel away from SHE’S A WONDER approaching the three-furlong point, while CALCULUS moved in for the kill with Shane Ellis stalking the pace from fourth down the backstretch.

RUNAWAY ALGO swung into the lane with a three-length lead but with strides shortening, whereas CALCULUS closed steadily in mid-track with his loping action. The writing was on the wall from a furlong out before 1-2 favourite CALCULUS caught up with his target and won going away, eased close to the wire.

CALCULUS’ 1:54.2 was one of the quickest times at the distance this season, bettered by United States-bred I AM FRED’s 1:54.1, which had beaten him into third place on June 4.

Meanwhile, stakes leader Jason DaCosta, who started the afternoon $3.5 million clear of defending three-time champion trainer Anthony Nunes, pressed the accelerator on his rival with a stinging four-timer on the 10-race card.

DaCosta’s winners were shared equally between Reyan Lewis, who rode a three-timer on the programme, and champion jockey Anthony Thomas in his bid to rein in leading rider Dane Dawkins.

Lewis virtually made all with DaCosta’s IANNAI LINKS and SHE’S MY FRIEND in the first and fifth races, respectively, in addition to booting home Richard Azan’s PERFECT BREW in the fourth.

Thomas moved within five winners of Dawkins, 80-75, atop the jockeys’ standings, first producing a late rally along the rail astride two-year-old THALITA to collar Nunes’ LEGIT BOSS near the wire in the Princess popstar Trophy at five and a half furlongs, clocking a decent 1:06.1 in the colours of leading owner Carlton Watson.

The three-time champion returned to close the card for DaCosta, sealing a double for Watson astride United States-bred MADELYN’S SUNSHINE, who made hacks of overnight-allowance runners at five and a half furlongs.