God Of Love to outsprint Yellowstone in feature

GOD OF LOVE was far from disgraced last time out behind EMPEROROFTHECATS in the Ahwhofah Trophy at six furlongs on December 10, putting him in good stead to finally break his five-furlong straight jinx in Saturday’s Security Department Trophy.

GOD OF LOVE, who last won at five furlongs straight nearly four years ago, January 26, 2019, to be exact, led then chased EMPEROROFTHECATS in splits of 22.4 and 34.1 and 57.3 a furlong out while in a second-place battle with BURLAP.

Being the heaviest of EMPEROROFTHECATS’ pursuers, GOD OF LOVE, naturally, weakened first, though somewhat eased by Robert Halledeen inside the final furlong, exaggerating his fifth-place finish.

EMPEROROFTHECATS not only returned to frank the form but did so in a major way at a level higher, clocking 1:06.0 to dismiss Mouttet Mile runners, SHE’S MY DESTINY and AMERICAN TAP, at five and a half furlongs in the Chris Armond Memorial Sprint two weeks later.

GOD OF LOVE has one of the most enviable records among racers at Caymanas Park, 15 wins from 58 starts for lifetime earnings of $14.1 million, without having won a classic race or multiple grade-one events.

DUBIOUS RECORDS

The celebrated tier-2 sprinter also has one of the most dubious records of speedsters. At age eight, GOD OF LOVE has spent more than a half of his career trying to win at what should be a sprinters’ paradise, five furlongs straight.

However, breaking from post-position 10, GOD OF LOVE should be among the leaders on the stands’ side where he should have YELLOWSTONE and A GIFT FROM BEN for company. Sharing topweight 126lb with YELLOWSTONE, who reports from a five-month break, GOD OF LOVE should get the better of his off-the-break opponent.

A GIFT FROM BEN has the handicaps to her liking and a plum draw, widest with the wind cover and track bias in his favour, but the five-year-old mare faces two powerful geldings, GOD OF LOVE and YELLOWSTONE, both of whom will be aiming to make all, pressuring her for the entire trip.

Having not raced since trying to match strides on the lead with GOD OF LOVE in the Betting Gaming and Lotteries Commission Trophy won by closer PERFECT BREW on August 1, YELLOWSTONE might need the run, especially with joint topweight 126lb, against his old rival who is most dangerous among non-restricted overnight allowance company.