Perfect Brew sneaks away with BGLC Trophy

PERFECT BREW capitalised on a collapsed speed duel between 3-5 favourite GOD OF LOVE and 6-5 second chance, YELLOWSTONE, to sweep by the battling pair in yesterday’s Betting Gaming and Lotteries Commission (BGLC) Trophy feature race at five and a half furlongs.

Always next-to-last on the far side while GOD OF LOVE led under pressure from YELLOWSTONE spinning into the home turn, PERFECT BREW never looked likely to get on terms with the leaders.

Though GOD OF LOVE shook off YELLOWSTONE’s challenge in the stretch run and appeared set to win back-to-back races after easily conquering overnight-allowance runners at the trip on July 1, sustained pressure from YELLOWSTONE left him a spent force inside the final half-furlong when PERFECT BREW came with a strong run in mid-track.

Closing strongly to close a three-timer for champion jockey Dane Dawkins, PERFECT BREW swept by close home at odds of 6-1, winning in a moderate 1:08.0, suggesting the leaders surrendered after setting fractions of 23.0 for the quarter and 46.2 for four furlongs.

Dawkins, who started the afternoon on 44 winners, 16 behind leader rider Reyan Lewis, ended the day on 47 after earlier booting home 9-1 outsider REJECTED RAJA in the third at five furlongs straight and BLUE PERSUASION at 4-1 in the fifth.

Lewis closed the nine-race card aboard 6-1 shot DEN STRERT for Carlton Cunningham and champion owner Carlton Watson.

Meanwhile, champion trainer Jason DaCosta’s filly, BANADURA (Casual Trick-Esperanza), easily made all with Abigail Able to land the BGLC/TOBA Juvenile Dash at three furlongs straight for owner Milade Azan, signalling the start of the Two-Year-Old season.

Racing continues at the Independence weekend with the fillies-only Jamaica Oaks on Saturday and the Jamaica Derby on Monday.