Thomas shines before the rain at Caymanas
RAIN brought a halt to the weekend’s Anthony Thomas show at Caymanas Park, the ninth and final race abandoned with the 2018 champion rider sealing a five-timer from eight events.
Thomas’ five-timer included a hat-trick for 18-time champion trainer Wayne DaCosta to complete a weekend rout of eight wins, racing seven clear of Dane Nelson atop the jockeys’ standings.
Thomas started the weekend one win behind three-time champion Nelson, who, for three consecutive meets, failed to ride a winner.
Nelson, partnering UNCLE FRANK, was on the receiving end of Thomas’ five-timer, outfinished by stablemate SUMMER SUN, who rallied in the eighth event at a mile after both caught SUPERLUMINAL a furlong out.
SUMMER SUN, a 5-2 chance, closed the hat-trick for Thomas and DaCosta, which started with 2-5 favourite FEARLESS CHAMPION, followed by two-year-old DEN STREET, who ran past stablemate SUPER DUPER a furlong out to complete back-to-back wins at five and a half furlongs.
Thomas was also hot for trainer Steven Todd, for whom he rode two winners, opening the programme with even-money favourite UNBREAKABLE, and won the Norman Manley Memorial Cup astride 5-2 chance BUCKALUCK.
Racing continues at the weekend with another Saturday-Sunday meet, which opens with a new-look opening Pick-6, dubbed the Reggae Six, a single-winner bet conducted on the first six races, carrying a first-day guaranteed jackpot of $3 million.
The guaranteed jackpot is $2 million thereafter with mandatory-payout dates.