Salt and Pepper edges 6 in Chairman’s Cup
Top chargers battled it out for the 2017 Philippine Racing Commission Chairman's Cup and 3YO Imported Fillies Championship last Sunday, with Salt and Pepper, and Already Feisty, winning the races at the jampacked Saddle and Clubs Leisure Park in Naic, Cavite.
Salt and Pepper nipped six others in a heart-pounding race to bag the coveted Philracom Chairman's Cup, held in honor of former Philracom Chairman Atty. Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II, who spearheaded the racing body from 2008 to 2011.
Salt and Pepper earned P1,200,000 for multi-titled owner Hermie Esguerra, even as trainer Ruben Tupas pocketed P70,000 as winning breeders's prize.
Electric Truth of owner Leonardo Javier Jr. finished second for the P450,00 prize, while underdog Pangalusian Island of Wilbert Tan took third place and the P250,000 purse. Shining Vic placed fourth, good for a P100,000 payday.
It was a close match from the start, before Salt and Pepper, conserving energy in the first half of the race, suddenly broke through a well-devised plan, with winning jockey Pat Dilema turning on the jets to steal the victory.
"Sinunod ko lang ang game plan ng trainer (Ruben Tupas) namin, sinukat ko muna 'yung takbo namin bago ako humataw ng ratsada," explained Dilema.
After a successful afternoon of races and ceremonies, Atty. Rojas commended the event, giving it high praise for its intense and exciting matches.
"I'm happy of the outcome of this year's Chairman's Cup and today we had some good races," said Rojas after the awarding ceremony.