Court of Honor takes ‘TC’ 2nd leg

ANOTHER filly won the second leg of the Triple Crown series Sunday, but there won’t be a sweet sweep this time.

Court of Honor, a stayer who drew little betting attention, roared back from the back of the pack and outdueled the favorites in the homestretch to book the biggest win of her career at Santa Ana Park in Carmona, Cavite.

The daughter of Cherokee out of island-born dam Twelve or Never responded splendidly under the whip of  John Paul Guce to finish a length ahead of Breaking Bad and another half a length in front of first-leg winner, Superv, also a filly.

The first big win of Court of Honor established the filly as one of the best young chargers in the land. Her handlers did not declare her for the first leg thinking she wasn’t ready for the big time.

Superv, who won the first leg at San Lazaro under Jeff Bacaycay, again set the pace for the 1,800-meter race before being caught by Court of Honor rounding the final bend and then later on by Breaking Bad.

Court of Honor, who won P1.8 million for her handlers, timed a respectable 1 minute and 54.2 seconds broken down in 13-1/2, 23-1/2, 24-1/2, 25-1/2 and 27-1/2.

Diamond’s Best (Kelvin Malapira),  Cat Express (Val Dilema) and Incredible Hook (Mark Alvarez) finished fourth to sixth, in that order, in the race held in honor of former Tarlac representative Enrique M. Conjuangco, Sr., who passed away recently.