Well that did not take long.
Imported just three weeks ago, Florida-bred ‘Don’t Over Look’ announced its arrival yesterday with a brilliant victory in the feature C and Lower 1400m event to claim the first jewel in the Triple Crown.
The faultless manner in which the Dark Bay colt raced to victory in its debut race here, left the betting fans at the Rising Sun Turf Club in disbelief.
Don’t Over Look stormed out of the sixth post and bided its time while betting favorites, Storm Bird and Just Call Me Boss set a blistering pace on the well prepared track.
The move from Don’t Over Look which fetched a top weight of 126 pounds came in a flash.
Storm Bird had the lead, Just Call Me Boss, Lucky Star, Settling Star and others were lurking as champion jockey Ron Ali of Trinidad was waiting for the right moment to go.
The race which featured eight starters was going according to his plan.
Around the second turn, Ali angled the champion race horse to the outside of the pace setters and the horses were neck-and-neck with five furlongs to go.
And then the theatrics started to unfold.
Storm Bird with Colin Ross in the stirrups went clear, her lead building with every powerful stride and then it happened. With one breathtaking surge over the final two furlongs, Don’t Over Look with Lucky Star and Storm Bird on his hip seemingly never tired, displayed superb sprinting speed.
The steed pinned back its ears and drew off on the home straight to claim the $1M first prize in 1m: 28.22s by about four lengths ahead of the fast finishing Lucky Star. Storm Bird faded slightly to third while Settling Star had a late surge and finished in fourth.
The commanding win for Don’t Over Look had its handlers of the Jumbo Jet Racing Stables thinking about bigger things for the newly imported thoroughbred. “I feel overjoyed” said Nasrudeen Mohamed Jr. “I am happy since this is the first big race I have won as a trainer, I look forward to much more.”
He will certainly be gunning for more wins in the second and third legs on March 24 and April 21.
Before the feature event, there were six other races. Two of which were won by the Jumbo Jet Racing Stables. Here is the summary:
Race 1 I Class (1400m)
Not This Time ($240,000)
Miss Olympic
Mary Ann
Race 2 L Non Earners (1100m)
First Prince
Lani
Quarter Pharaoh
Pinky Promise
Race 3 K Class (1100m)
Feeona ($220,000)
King Stanley
Uprising
Gold Again
Race 4 H Class (1100m)
Chameli ($300,000)
Isn’t She Charming
Ready to Romance
Seven Dust
Race 5 3 Year Old (1400m)
Valentina ($400,000)
Is He Perfect
Ebony
Mahaica Star
Race 6 J Class (1400m)
Miss Olympic $230,000
Red Region
King Stanley
In excess of $8 million in cash and prizes were awarded yesterday during the Banks DIH Limited, Jumbo Jet Auto Sales sponsored event.
