SC Stockfarm bets take top 2 in thrilling finish

Racing phenom Sepfourteen overcame the biggest challenge to his Triple Crown quest last week after he eked out a narrow victory in the second leg of coveted trifecta championship at the Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite.

In the thrilling dash to the finish, the three-year-old chestnut colt bravely held his own against the challenge of game stable mate Brilliance and big finishing Hiway One to pull off the victory and move just a win away from an elusive Triple Crown sweep.

“Entering the homestretch, I knew that I had plenty of horse left to outrun my coupled entry (Brilliance) and was never in doubt about the outcome of the race despite the close finish,” said winning rider John Alvin Guce, who is best remembered for guiding Kid Molave to a Triple Crown grand slam three years ago.

Inaugural Hopeful Stakes winner and noted speedball Brilliance, the only filly in the field, stepped up big time over the lengthier 1,800-meter distance and dictated the pace throughout the journey, narrowly missing the mark by a short neck with regular jockey Kelvin Abobo on the saddle.

Meanwhile, longshot Hiway One staged a late rally near the rails coming from the back of the pack and managed to make a run at the leaders, who both ran wide at the top of the home turn, to provide the added excitement in the mad dash for home.

Both Sepfourteen and Brilliance were bred and raised at SC Stockfarm in Sto. Tomas, Batangas, a thriving breeding and racing operation which has been on a roll over the past weeks following the impressive victories of Radio Active in the recent PCSO Silver Cup and Hitting Spree (USA) in the MJCI 1867 Founders’ Cup.

“All of the successes we have achieved thus far is a product of team effort and a determination to achieve what we have set out to accomplish after many years of planning and preparation,” said SC Stockfarm owner Oliver “Jojo” Velasquez.

Winning trainer Chito Santos expressed optimism that Sepfourteen can still improve following his second leg conquest, noting that the colt is better suited for the longer distance races and thrives best under competitive pressure.

Since its inception in 1978, only 10 horses have completed the three-race championship for three-year-olds and Sepfourteen will get his chance to join the exclusive club when he competes for the third and final leg of the series over 2,000 meters on July 30, also at the Santa Ana Park. Champion colt Sepfourteen (foreground) and jockey John Alvin Guce hold their own in a thrilling battle down the stretch to the finish to rule the second leg of the 2017 Philracom Triple Crown Series.