A birthday win for trainer Michael Hall
ON Saturday, March 16, 2024, trainer Michael Hall fulfilled his wish of winning on his birthday by combining with jockey Shane Richardson and his charge
Curlin’s Flight to defeat competitors at 15-1 in the opening event on the 10-race card.
The race was a three-year-old and upward Optional Claiming ($400,000-$300,000) event that included native-bred six-year-olds and upward (non-winners of four) and imported six-year-olds and upward (non-winners of three) over 5 furlongs (1,000m) straight.
Curlin’s Flight was unable to match speed with rivals, with Richardson settling behind the pace for most of the way. The six-year-old dark bay gelding watched as Thalos (Richard Henry) and Jon P (Raddesh Roman) set the early splits.
Coming across the dummy rails and onto the main track for the last two furlongs (400m) of the race, Curlin’s Flight and Baton Rouge (Jawani Forbes) came with their finishing efforts.
Curlin’s Flight then surged to the front in the final stages of the race and held on by ½ length ahead of Baton Rouge. D’s Choice (Rudolph Paige) ran on to get third place as the final time was clocked at 1:03.2 (24.1 x 47.1).
Hall said that was the best feeling he has felt in quite a while.
“I am feeling fine as it was a great birthday present,” Hall told the Jamaica Observer’s The Supreme Racing Guide.
“I acquired this horse from Patrick Lynch, who is, in my opinion, one of the best conditioners of horses here. And I had to work with him [Curlin’s Flight] because he had his faults, but I think we have gotten to a stage where he could win.
“I had wanted him to win on my birthday, and I was able to do that today. A lot of people said that I must take down the jockey and put up someone else, but I believe in honesty, and that was what brought us through today.
“Well, I am very happy. I have been in this game for over 40 years, and it is always good to win races,” Hall said.