Marci’s Dreamer caught ‘em napping

MARCI’S DREAMER, brought with a resolute stretch run, took the feature Starter Allowance race when races resumed at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, yesterday. The four-year-old bay colt was always in the middle of the six-horse field in the 1200 metres race, while Dauntless Hero cut out the early fractions along with Salsa Moves. The Ronald Maharaj-owned Salsa Moves took up the running 600 metres out and looked the likely winner. But Barbadian jockey Patrick Husbands who now campaigns at Woodbine in Canada, drove his American-bred mount along the rails to the post for a short head victory in the $23,000 event.

The day saw young Barba-dian apprentice Jonathan Grant score his first win at Santa Rosa Park when he guided the speedy Ice Timber to a surprise length and three-quarter victory in the 1350 metres race for Imported Three-year-olds and Over Maidens. And seven-time champion and current Jamaica top jockey Brian Harding displayed his undoubted skills in landing three winners to be best on the day ahead of promising apprentice Neela Moham-med who had two winning rides. Leading trainer of the day was Harriram “Pepsi” Gobin who saddled two winners in Ice Timber and Fresh Wings.

When Ice Timber caught and beat another rank outsider in Salute The Colours, the Richard Smith-owned American-bred three-year-old rewarded backers with $22.30 and $8.40 on the tote with the second paying $24.30. But the biggest trifecta dividend of the day came in the Optional Claiming race over 1750 metres, shifted to the main track from the turf. Seldom used rider Rojidan Ramirez booted home Running Trick ahead of Justice and Tricky Guy for a payout of $6,048.00 and with Getting Something in fourth place, the superfecta was a very handsome $10,670.80 Running Trick rewarded his backers with $15.30 and $4.20 on the tote, with the second returning $15.10 and third $5.40. Racing takes a one-week break this weekend and will restart on January 28 when an Allowance race over 1750 metres will be the feature with a purse of $26,000.