Stranger Danger in charge in GG’s Stakes
Published:Sunday | September 15, 2019 | 12:37 AMAinsley Walters - Sunday Gleaner Writer
STRANGER DANGER was only asked to run the last two furlongs of yesterday’s Governor General’s Stakes but still clocked a fast 2:06.4, dismissing top handicapper BIGDADDYKOOL and his stablemates by five and a quarter lengths at Caymanas Park.
Carrying 121lb, with Omar Walker, Wayne DaCosta’s unbeaten three-year-old American colt easily ticked off his eighth win despite tag-team tactics by his opponents, all from the rival barn of Anthony Nunes.
Drawn widest at post-position six in the 10-furlong graded stakes race, STRANGER DANGER held his lane to the clubhouse turn despite Anthony Thomas aboard FAYROUZ urging his mount to keep Walker wide heading into the bend.
After FAYROUZ, it was HOUDINI’S MAGIC turn, rushing to the lead, along the rail down the backstretch, hoping to draw an uninterested Walker into a melee.
When Walker made his move at the half-mile marker, STRANGER DANGER changed gears and soared to the lead with his rider still motionless, awaiting a now-ridden BIGDADDYKOOL.
Straightening unmolested, STRANGER DANGER effortlessly increased his lead, leaving BIGDADDYKOOL and HOUDINI’S MAGIC struggling in his wake, confirming the long-known fact that he is the best horse in the country, having only his stablemate, SHE’S A MANEATER, as his last hurdle to the top on Diamond Mile Day, November 7.
Nunes, holding a $15 million lead in the trainers standings, saddled three winners on the 11-race card, two-year-old debutant CASH IS KING in the third and SAN SIRO in the seventh and closed the card with St Leger runner-up TOONA CILIATA at a mile in the Errol ‘Big Sub’ Memorial, approximately $1.4 million in stakes, doubling DaCosta’s $700,000 earnings from STRANGER DANGER.
Leading rider Christother Mamdeen snared the last double, booting home TOONA CILIATA after a well-timed run with United States-bred SHE’S AN INTROVERT in the 10th, flooring stablemate and Derby runner-up SENTIENT, the 7-5 favourite, who finished third, relegated close home by PRINCESS AVA.
Racing continues at Caymanas Park on Saturday.