By Jimmie, Star Racing Writer
AN expected $5m Pick-9 jackpot, a clash of Richard Azan's top two-year-olds and a hot dash for the 1200-metre None-Such Sprint should provide non-stop excitement on Cash Pot Raceday at Caymanas Park tomorrow afternoon.
A bulging Pick-9 carryover of $4.1m starts at the 1200-metre third race, which features Wayne DaCosta's trio of LIL' COUNTRY BOY, CLOCK WORK and SI MI TRIAL ganging up on Anthony Nunes' big filly, LA REINA.
The day's co-feature, the Cash Pot 'Only One For Me' Trophy at 1200 metres, pits the season's leading two-year-olds, ALNASKRA and TOOT DI HOOT, both trained by Azan, in a fierce battle for a $2m purse.
ALNASKRA impressed punters on September 27 when he debuted at 1000 metres round, clocking one minute flat at the distance, the same day his more experienced stablemate, TOOT DI HOOT, ticked off his third straight win, romping home unchallenged at 1300 metres.
Similar to 2004 when he ruled the two-year-old roost with the smart pair of COLTRANE and KAMIR, Azan holds all aces as his runners look set to dominate the $7.5m Supreme Ventures Jamaica Two-Year-Old three-race series, starting with tomorrow's event.
Azan gave little away at exercise last Saturday morning as ALNASKRA and TOOT DI HOOT finished heads-on in a five-furlong gallop out of the gate, clocking an easy 59.3.
ALNASKRA, sired by AL'S RIVER CAT, appears to be a sharp sprinter and returns treated with lasix, suggesting he could report even better for his second outing.
However, prior to Saturday's workout, TOOT DI HOOT was consistently getting the better of ALNASKRA at exercise, twice beating his stablemate from the gate on September 13 and 20.
Super-6 and Pick-9
LIL' COUNTRY BOY should give bettors hunting the Pick-9 a flying start in the third at 1200 metres. The speedy American-bred six-year-old horse was beaten by Nunes' LA REINA and stablemate SI MI TRIAL at 1000 metres straight two weeks ago with topweight 60.5 kilos.
DaCosta has now called up claiming apprentice Jason Simpson to slip four kilos from 57.0, ensuring LIL' COUNTRY BOY goes to post with 53.0, making him hard to beat in the six-horse field.
DaCosta also holds the answer to the first Super-6 race as his PASSA PASSA has worked brilliantly for the 2000-metre fifth event for Overnight allowance runners.
With a guaranteed payout of $500,000 awaiting punters, American-bred PASSA PASSA, who galloped six furlongs in 1:13.4, last Sunday morning, should use his class to outpace his seven local rivals.
FUSILIER has some speed, but was far from convincing when beating I AM PAID FOR at nine furlongs and 25 yards last time out.
Rowan Mathie's stayer, UNLEADED, and the very fit HIGH GRADE are twin threats to PASSA PASSA from off the pace.
Down in class BULLS EYE should land the tricky 11th race for $160,000 at 1000 metres straight.
The four-year-old colt cheekily finished outside the frame last Saturday among $220,000 claimers at 1100 metres, a week after being narrowly beaten at the same level by MAMA'S GIRL, ALLEGRO and KERMIT after trying to make all at 1400 metres.