Forest Cover paced itself until the last 300 meters before edging out both Mona’s Mark and Electrify to rule the 2nd leg of the Philippine Racing Commission (Philracom) Juvenile Fillies and Colts Stakes Race at the Saddle and Leisure Park in Naic, Cavite on Sunday.
It was a neck-to-neck battle down to the finish line for the three-horse party of Forest Cover, Mona’s Mark and Electrify, but it was the Aristeo G. Puyat-owned filly, who managed to steal the lead and won by a head in the 1,300-meter race.
Winning Jockey O’Neal P. Cortez shared their game plan and how they managed to squeeze past the opposition and collect his first victory with Forest Cover.
Kinuha muna namin kung saan siya (Forest Cover) kampanteng puwesto, bago kami nagbakbakan noong rekta,” said Cortez in the post-race interview.
“Noong nadikitan naman kami ni Mona’s Mark, nag-respond na ‘yung kabayo ko,” added Cortez, jockey of Victorious Colt, which won the last leg of the Philracom Triple Crown Series last July.
Forest Cover won P600,000 for owner Puyat, with CM Vicente earning the Breeder’s Purse of P30,000. Vicente also received the winner’s trophy on the owner’s behalf.
Mona’s Mark settled for the runner-up purse of P225,000, while Electrify took home P125,000 and Barayong pocketed P50,000 for the third and fourth-place finishes, respectively.
Earlier that day, Caloocan Girl and rider Ryan Garcia whipped up a spectacular showing in front of the horse racing community with a triumphant run on the KDJM Juvenile Fillies Stakes Race.
Girl secured P300,000 from the win. It was also Garcia’s biggest win yet in his young career as a jockey.
Other winners of the 12-race Philippine Racing Club Inc. Sunday schedule were Cojuangco Cup champion Hitting Spree (Race 1), Summer Cruise (Race 2), Ace Up (Race 4), Kingship (Race 5), Shadow Of The Sun (Race 7), Pride Of Laguna (Race 8), Lakambini Stakes winner Disyembreasais (Race 9), Silver Glow (Race 10), Shoo In (Race 11) and Minotaur (Race 12).
Meanwhile, one last big stakes race is coming in October – the Sampaguita Stakes Race set Oct. 28.
This will be followed by the Ambassador Eduardo M. Cojuangco Jr. Cup, MARHO Racing Event and 1st Leg of 3YO Open Challenge Series on Nov. 4, and the 3rd Legs of the Juvenile Fillies Stakes Race and Juvenile Colts Stakes Race on Nov. 18.
