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| Sky Shot and jockey FM Raquel Jr. were victorious in Naic. PHILRACOM Information |
By Ricky Manliguis
MANILA—Overwhelming favorite Sky Shot stamped its superiority after leading the charge to win the 2021 Philippine Racing Commission (PHILRACOM) Sampaguita Stakes Race Sunday at the Philippine Racing Club in Naic, Cavite.
Piloted by jockey Fernando "Dhunoy" Raquel, the
Esguerra Farms-bred filly finished the 1800-meter course with the time of one
minute, 51.6 seconds, beating two-time winner Princess Eowyn by around 7
lengths to nab the P1.2-million prize pot.
The 476-kilogram chesnut filly by Juggling Act out of
Lamborghini took the early lead as the gates opened, while warding off the
challenge of Shanghai Grey in the last 600 meters and never looked back since
then.
Cam From Behind finished in third place, while Shanghai Grey
came out fourth. Runner-ups received P450,000, P250,000 and P100,000 for their
connections, respectively.
The win was Sky Shot’s second consecutive win of the year
after topping the Philracom Classic at the same track earlier. This also became
the first time in local horse-racing that one owner won the Sampaguita Stakes
three years in a row as Princess Eowyn was formerly owned by Edward Vincent
Diokno.
Sky Shot is owned by Diokno and trained by Ernesto Roxas.
Meanwhile, Gomezian of owner Alfredo Santos and trainer DR
Dela Cruz didn't disappoint her backers and jockey OP Cortez as she ruled the
Philracom Two-Year-Old Stakes.
The 440-kilogram chestnut filly by Sakima out of Hot Yoga, also
bred by Esguerra farms of businessman/sportsman Hermie Esguerra, clocked in
with a time of one minute and 18 seconds in 1300 meters to edge out fierce
rival Pharaoh’s Gift for the P600,000 top prize.
Pharaoh's Gift, Victorious Princess and Doña Chichay rounded
out the finishers giving their connections P225,000, P125,000 and P50,000 for
coming in second, third and fourth, in that order.
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