Race Car finds right gear at Caymanas

RACE CAR overcame traffic problems down the backstretch yesterday and running four-wide into the lane to storm past SENTIENT and MASTER OF HALL close to home, making amends for his fourth-place finish when going for a fourth-straight victory two Saturdays ago.

Reunited with leading jockey Dane Nelson, at seven and a half furlongs, after Anthony Thomas’ hasty ride at nine and 25 yards, United States-bred RACE CAR was not the best away from the dreaded one hole and got into a pocket along the rail, forcing Nelson to launch his challenge wide of rivals leaving the three-furlong marker.

However, the grey colt ran straight and true when set down in the drive to go in chase of SENTIENT and MASTER OF HALL after the pair had peeled off from the field at the half-mile marker.

Closing strongly in mid-track, while SENTIENT and MASTER OF HALL continued their battle along the rail, even-money favourite RACE CAR got up in time at the wire to win by a head in a smart 1:32.0.

SENTIENT won the battle for second, by a neck, in a three-way photo, never allowed to settle by MASTER OF HALL, who ran a big race for third in his second start out of Wayne DaCosta’s barn.

BACK-TO-BACK WINNERS

Panamanian Dick Cardenas and Anthony Thomas, both former champion jockeys, each rode three winners on the 10-race card.

Cardenas opened the programme with back-to-back winners, starting with a huge 39-1 upset astride FABULOSITY at seven furlongs.

Closing astride 7-2 chance, ENUFFISENUFF, in the second, Cardenas pounced on the leaders, TRULY AMAZING and FORMAL FASHION, to land the five and a half furlong event by three-quarter length.

The Panamanian closed his three-timer aboard STEP IN FAITH in the seventh, going six furlongs, collaring a weakening FASCINATION inside the last half-furlong.

Thomas grabbed gate-to-wire winners, heavy favourites, in the third and fifth events, ADORE BRILLIANCE and EL MAESTRO, before closing with 5-2 chance CHIEF PROSPECT, to land the sixth.

Trainers Alford Brown and Spencer Chung bagged back-to-back winners. Brown’s 1-5 favourites, ADORE BRILLIANCE and CASE CLOSED, got home comfortably in the third and fourth events.

RACE CAR closed Chung’s double after PUSKAS wired rivals at odds of 2-1 in the eighth.

Racing continues at Caymanas Park with back-to-back meets at the weekend, Saturday and Sunday.