Get A Pepsi closes five-timer for Roman
Published:Monday | April 29, 2024 | 12:12 AMAinsley Walters/Gleaner Writer
RADDESH Roman completed a five-timer, closing yesterday’s 10-race card with a hat-trick signed off by GET A PEPSI in the Temperence Oaks Trophy at six and a half furlongs.
Starting the afternoon 13 behind leading rider Tevin Foster, title-challenging Roman stalked the leaders from third aboard 7-2 chance LAST DANCE, pouncing along the rail inside the final furlong and a half to go by HEART OF A LION in the second event at six and a half furlongs.
Returning aboard Anthony Nunes’ PRINCE AMAAN in the fourth for three-year-old maidens, Roman’s mount outbattled 3-5 favourite SONOGRAM by a short head at five furlongs straight, getting the better of the first-timer partnered by six-time champion jockey Omar Walker.
Seemingly unable to do no wrong, Roman picked up a chance ride in the eighth aboard K D STRONG following the early scratch of his intended mount, UNCAPTURED EMPRESS.
Stepping in for Robert Halledeen, Roman got the United States-bred filly off to a flyer from gate one at five furlongs straight, prevailing at odds of 11-1 in a three-way photo involving FLYBLUEJET and UNCLE NUB.
Roman’s third straight-chute win of the afternoon was almost an armchair ride aboard SPEEDIE HARE, who carried him past rivals for an explosive finish at odds of 9-2 ahead of 4-5 favourite BULLETPROOFCOFFEE.
With adrenaline pumping in the 10th, Roman was lucky not to have attracted the stewards’ attention aboard GET A PEPSI, his mount swerving left before clearing the field and cruising unmolested into the lane.
Fresh off a one-length loss to MAMMA MIA, last year’s Oaks and 1000 Guineas winner at seven and a half furlongs, GET A PEPSI quickened away to win by four lengths at a furlong shorter, too quick for ALL FOR LOVE closing from off the pace, putting Roman eight behind Foster ahead of this weekend’s Saturday-Sunday meet.
The top three-year-olds are set to square-off in the Kingston and Portmore Stakes at seven and a half furlongs, the last major prep events for the 1000 and 2000 Guineas, respectively.