CARMONA, Cavite—John Alvin Guce prodded the youthful El Debarge to move in front right away.
And his encouragements paid off as El Debarge went on to dominate the first leg of the 2017 Philracom Juvenile and Fillies 2YO Stakes Race, one of the highlights of the Mayor Ramon D. Bagatsing Racing Festival recently at the Manila Jockey Club’s San Lazaro Leisure Park.
“Maganda kasi na ipa-unahan na siya (El Debarge) at ilaban na sa harapan,” said Guce, who last July distinguished himself when he rode Septourteen to a sweep of the Philracom Triple Crown Stakes race.
Pursued by Barrister and Probinsiyano, El Debarge reached the finish line in one minute and 22.6 seconds (7-23-24-28’).
A guaranteed prize of P1 million went to El Debarge and its owner SC Stockfarm, while Barrister and Probinsiyano went home with P600,000 and P225,000, respectively. Hot to Trot, which was one of the leaders at the start, eventually faded away to fourth spot.
Guce, who had four races that day, also rode Messi to a second-place finish behind Malaya in the Philracom Cup Division 1 race of the Bagatsing Racing Festival, which earned staggering sales of P40,008,998 for the 13-race day, the highest this year. This, together with the P28.7 million earned on Saturday also made the racefest the highest-grossing weekend of 2017.
Sunday’s Bagatsing Racing Festival, which had Indian Ambassador Jaideep Mazumdar as guest of honor, still owns the record sales of P43,281,228.00 garnered from the 2014 edition of the memorial racing event.
Messi, a 2-year old bay colt, earned the P480,000 second-place prize behind Malaya’s winnings of P800,000. Malaya took the Philracom Cup in a photo finish against Messi, third placer Blue Berry and fourth-running Manalig Ka in the distance of 1,750 meters.
In other results Sunday, More or Less won the Solaire Resort and Casino Cup (Div. II), while Bite My Dust ruled the Resorts World Manila Challenge of Champions Cup, which pitted the cast of 2016 against those of 2017. Underwood placed second while Adios Reality finished third, also in the distance of 1,750 meters.
On Saturday, Diamond’s Best won the 1,500-meter Fundador Cup (Division I), with Niccole Girl, Guatemala and Nicole Angel placing second to fourth, respectively.
