Protest gives Song Of Freedom debut victory

SONG OF FREEDOM made a winning start to his career on local soil on Day 8 of the Arima Race Club racing season at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, yesterday.

But the Grant Lourenco-trained American-bred four-year-old gelding was awarded the feature 110 metres event, after finishing second to pre-race favourite and stable companion Sugar Mike. Song Of Freedom zipped out of the starting stalls at the off, tracked by Man Of Class, Honor Bound and Miss Lover Lover. He kept up a strong gallop until the eight-horse field rounded the turn 600 metres out. Sugar Mike who was a backmarker in the early stages of the race, swooped to take the lead but soon drifted toward the rails, and this caused a domino effect.

Jockey Wilmer Galviz astride Miss Lover Lover fell from his mount at this stage. Following objections, the ARC stewards viewed the film of the event and later disqualified both the three-quarter length winner Sugar Mike and third placed My Son John. The supporting event, the 1750 metres for three-year-old maidens was won by Celebration Time. Only Panamanian rider Nobel Abrego managed more than one winner for the day, when he landed both Sea Spider and Red Hill, but the nine-race  programme turned up nine different trainers saddling winners. There were several upset winners with the biggest coming when Lovely Pearl got home by three-quarter lengths to win the 1100 metres event on the turf.

The seven-year-old which gave Kennedy Jadoo one of his rare victories, rewarded backers with $45.30 and $8.50, while another long shot winner was Storming Wind with a payout of $23.60 and $7.30. Best trifecta dividend came on the Lovely Pearl Shezabute, Joint Venturer combination, $5,234.80, while the biggest superfecta payment of $7,632.00 was on the Bazodee Gal, Francesca, Return To Glory, Upset All combine.