Reggae 6 a knotty affair

by

December 24, 2024

Photo

ACKNOWLEDGEME (right), ridden by Dick Cardenas, winning the Master Blaster Trophy ahead of FLYBLUEJET (Javaniel Patterson) over five furlongs straight at Caymanas Park on Sunday, December 15.

THOUGH Thursday's Reggae 6 mandatory payout falls on Boxing Day, spotting a multimillion-dollar single-winning ticket would be welcome by any punter as a Christmas gift.

However, Thursday's Reggae 6 is no walk-in-the-park, practically void of bankers throughout. SIR JOHN is a must-carry in the opening event at seven furlongs among $750,000 claimers.

Throw BIG BIG DADDY's overnight-allowance run out the window, making him a must-use on a $750,000 tag. Factor that he is down in class from $1m claiming, leading GILBERT to almost the furlong pole at seven furlongs on October 12.

Either STORM VALLEY or BEAUTIFUL BRAN will win the second for $180,000 claimers at five and a half furlongs. However, ensure LADY SARSUTTA, TORONADO STEEL and PONDEROSA are on all bets for the third, three-year-old maidens, fillies, at six furlongs.

UNRULY BOSS, THE LOVE OF GOD and STICKYDON should be sufficient for the fourth at six furlongs, optional claimers mixed with older winners. Similarly, INDESTRUCTIBLE, AFFAIR and DI MIRACLE ANGEL should all be used in the fifth at five and a half furlongs for non-winners of two races.

CRUZZIN AGAIN, BEAUTIFUL MOON and READMYLIPS are solid choices in the sixth for what should be a big holiday payout on the Reggae 6 mandatory.

Meanwhile, a small but feisty field of six runners, dominated by four fillies, square-off for Thursday's Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes at a mile, hoping to be crowned champion native two-year-old.

Among the line-up are three BGLC-TOBA Millionaires Series winners - STRONG MIND, LOVISA and DANKA - each having won $1 million bonus races in

Series 1 for native two-year-olds at various distances.

The marker race for the Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes crown must be the seven-furlong Mr Sensational, a BGLC-TOBA Millionaires Series 2 event won by United States-bred UNSPUN on November 30.

DANKA, who broke with the field but took a while to get going down the backstretch, tailed off at the half-mile marker, made eye-catching gains to straighten almost alongside UNSPUN with a threatening run against the rail.

Just as she was switched from off the rail to challenge BURNING HEDGE, who had taken over from early leaders, UNRULY MO and LOVISA, DANKA was pushed back to the barrier by UNSPUN, costing the filly valuable ground at a most crucial stage of the stretch run.

Having worked extremely well, seven furlongs out the mile chute in 1:28.0, Richard Azan's DANKA looks set to give Oakridge Farms' first-season stallion Aveenu Malcainu (Into Mischief-Island Time) his first big-race winner.

sports@gleanerjm.com

JIMMIE

REGGAE 6

Race 1: 3, 10

Race 2: 1, 3

Race 3: 1, 8, 9

Race 4: 2, 3, 6

Race 5: 3, 10, 11

Race 6: 3, 11, 12

TOTAL: $3,240

TWILIGHT 6

Race 5: 3, 10, 11