ACE JOCKEY Jonathan B. Hernandez let Pleasantly Perfect keep a pace to his liking before goading the talented colt to a swashbuckling run in the stretch to win the PCSO PSA Stakes recently at San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite.
The three-year-old son of Interrogate and Passing on Passion ran down fading pacesetters Si Señor and Arvindugo in the final straight to win by a length and bag the top prize of P700,000 for his connections.
Even with Hernandez carrying the heaviest handicap weight of 57 kilograms, Pleasantly Perfect, the third choice behind the veteran Arvindugo, clocked a minute and 41.8 seconds for the mile over a fairly hard track.
The PSA Cup was one of two benefit races hosted by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office in celebration of its 78th anniversary on Sunday.
Pugad Lawin, under former two-time PSA Jockey of the Year Jessie B. Guce, ruled the other race over Madam Theresa.
Pugad Lawin, a three-year-old who was the only colt in the five-horse field, was sent off as the outstanding pick in the other benefit race and ran like one under Guce to win the P400,000 prize.
Guce and Pugad Lawin timed 1:29 for 1,400 meters with Quaker’s Hill checking in third.
Lawyer Jose Ferdinand Rojas II, the PCSO general manager who was formerly chair of the Philippine Racing Commission, graced the awarding rites and handed the trophies to the winning owners, jockeys and trainers.
The PSA Cup was revived three years ago as PCSO’s fund raiser for the programs of the country’s oldest media organization. Musong R. Castillo