THE WIDE-OPEN first leg of this year’s Triple Crown series, featuring 11 of the country’s finest three-year-olds, gets off the ground today at the new Metro Turf racetrack in Malvar, Batangas.
There are no clear favorites in the race for the P1.8-million top prize, unlike last year when Hagdang Bato pulled off an expected sweet sweep.
Captain Ball and Borj Khalifa of the popular Hermie Esguerra stables, Boss Jaden of Sito Esquivas and two other colts sired by many-time stakes champion Real Spicy are expected to corner much of the sales in the P3-million one-mile race.
Boss Jaden, the juvenile champion, will be ridden by Jeff Bacaycay, while the veteran Patti Dilema and Deo Fernandez will handle Captain Ball and Borj Khalifa, respectively.
Another likely contender is El Libertador, Mandaluyong Mayor Benhur Abalos’ entry. Abalos owns Hagdang Bato and has asked Jonathan Hernandez to steer his colt. Hernandez and Hagdang Bato partnered last season.
Incidentally, Hernandez is just three Triple Crown race victories shy of matching the all-time mark held by the retired Jesus C. Guce, who ended an illustrious career with 12 victories, including a TC sweep with the legendary Fair and Square in 1981 and Skywalker in 1983.
Eduardo C. Domingo Jr. has 11 victories, including a sweep atop the popular Sun Dancer in 1989.
Jeff Zarate rides Hot and Spicy, an offspring of Real Spicy, with Alvin Guce partnering Be Humble, Val Dilema riding Spinning Pledge, Paolo Guce piloting Grand Strikes Girl, Mark Alvarez handling Divine Eagle, EG Reyes driving Keep the Pledge and Chris Gargantia steering Haring Benedict.
A second big race, the P1-million Hopeful, is also on tap today where 12 runners are entered.
Balbonic (Val Dilema), Big Boy Vito (Deo Fernandez), Big Leb (Jesse Guce), Cat’s Silver (Hernandez), Daragang Magayon (Zarate), Five Star (Pati Dilema), Flying Honor (Dominador Borbe Jr)., Jazz Connection (Fernando Raquel Jr)., Leonor (JV Ponce), Mrs. Teapot (Bacaycay), Nurture Nature (Carlo Henson), and Sharpshooter (Mark Alvarez) are the entries vying for the top P600,000 prize in the race also set over 1,600 meters.