AFTER quietly completing a rare Triple Crown, Hagdang Bato tries to jump into the spotlight anew when the week-long 17th Marho racing festival culminates today featuring six rich stakes races at Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite.
Hagdang Bato will be sent off as overwhelming favorite under veteran Jonathan Hernandez when he returns from a long layoff to battle five other horses in the San Miguel Colt Mile, one of the big events lined up in the program dubbed Marho Daisy-siete festival.
Hagdang Bato will carry into the race a rare feat of being the first horse in 11 years to complete the country’s Triple Crown, which he achieved last July. Although the horse has been through a four-month layoff, very few expect to bet against Hagdang Bato today.
Making up the field that will challenge Hagdang Bato in the one-mile (1,600 meters) event are Yes I’m The One, Golden Empire, Purple Ribbon, Penrith and Steel Creation—all tested campaigners whom Hagdang Bato had previously beaten in the course of his amazing campaign in a season about to end.
All eyes will also be on multi-titled Carriedo, who will take on veteran Native Land and five others in the 2000-meter San Miguel Beer Classic where a top prize of P1 million is on the line.
The other highlight races are the Santa Ana Sprint, Philracom Juvenile Fillies, Philracom Juvenile Colts, and the PCSO Mile, all featuring cash pot as high as P500,000.
“It will be a day to remember in local horseracing. Don’t miss this one,” said Marho chair Sandy Javier, while thanking the sponsors who helped make the festival a success.
Owned by Mandaluyong City mayor Benhur Abalos and trained by Ruben Tupas, Hagdang Bato will gun for his sixth stakes win as he prepares for the prestigious Presidential Gold Cup scheduled Dec. 9 at the same track.