Nuclear Noon explodes in nightpan
NUCLEAR NOON exploded from fourth a half-furlong out t o outfinish ALEXA’S LODGE, DEEP BLUE SEA and WILSON at five furlongs round in yesterday’s closing event at Caymanas Park, keeping twotime defending champion trainer, Anthony Nunes, within striking distance of stakes leader Jason DaCosta.
DaCosta had earlier extended his $322,000 lead in the eighth event with his 6-5 chance, UNRULY BOSS, who floored Nunes’ 4-5 favourite, SANTORINI, at a mile.
UNRULY BOSS used his superior pace to virtually make all with TRUE AL SKY as company down the backstretch before turning back SANTORINI to win by threequarter length in 1:40.0.
Nunes faced anxious moments in the nightpan when NUCLEAR NOON, seemingly bogged down behind horses with DEEP BLUE SEA begging for the wire and ALEXA’S LODGE taking dead aim, had to be switched four-wide by Robert Halledeen.
Though backed as the 4-5 favourite in his bid for a second win in six days after fortune favoured him last Sunday in the Tack Room Trophy, NUCLEAR NOON was almost bushwhacked by the speedsters after DEEP BLUE SEA shook off UNKNOWN SOLDIER at the top of the lane and set sail for home.
Stubborn DEEP BLUE SEA kept repelling ALEXA’S LODGE and WILSON, appearing to have stolen the race with a hop or two to decide the overnight allowance event.
ACCELERATED RAPIDLY
However, NUCLEAR NOON accelerated rapidly when set down by Halledeen, who pulled out all the stops in a thrilling last half-furlong ride, to win by a length-and-quarter in a drive-by finish, clocking 1:00.1.
ALEXA’S LODGE got the nod on DEEP BLUE SEA for second at the wire whereas WILSON, searching for racing room on the inner, had to settle for fourth.
Six-time former champion, Omar Walker, booted home back-to-back winners, BRINKS and STORM BORN, in the second and third events to share the day’s riding honours with Javaniel Patterson, who had opened the programme with ZI BEAST before landing the ninth with a cheeky front-running ride astride 8-1 outsider AJITA.
Racing continues this afternoon with a nine-race card.