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2016 Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup Day

horse racing
Jockey Jalon Samuel and other connections celebrate with Dorsett after winning the 2016 Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup
Date: 03/05/2016

The most prestigious race in Barbados is the Bar$214,000 Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup (G1-Bar), celebrating its 35th running this year, along with the 20th year of Sandy Lane Resort's sponsorship, and the 50th anniversary of Bajan independence from Great Britain. Conditions were ideal at the Garrison Savannah Racecourse just outside Bridgetown, with a firm turf course, clear skies, temperatures in the mid 80's, and a 14 mph breeze from the east. The main event was delayed by almost an hour due to four separate fallen riders on the undercard requiring the ambulance to make multiple trips, as well as a bizarre incident involving an illegally parked car blocking the movement of the starting gate. In addition, every race start was delayed by fans crossing the track to/from the infield when the gate was already loaded.

A field of 10 faced the starter as the sun set, with Watchyourownbobber sent off as the 3-2 favorite in this 1800 meter (about 1 1/8 mile) contest, off his 3rd place finish in the Tropical Park Derby at Gulfstream after winning the Showing Up Stakes at Gulfstream Park West (formerly Calder). In to challenge him included 9-5 second choice War Envoy, second in a Tampa Bay allowance after a disappointing 11th in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), and 4-1 third choice and top local hope Just a Fashion, winner of the Coolmore Stakes last out, the major local prep for the Gold Cup. Defending champion Sayler's Creek was the 11-2 fourth choice, and has not raced since that win.
horse racing
Dorsett takes the lead down the stretch.

Sayler's Creek and jockey Ricky Walcott was quickest away and led the field first time past the stands while pressed by War Envoy with jockey Mario Pino to his inside and Just a Fashion to his outside through fractions of 24.6 and 48.6 over the firm course. On the clubhouse turn, Just a Fashion with Antonio Bishop gained a short lead parked wide with War Envoy on the rail and Sayler's Creek third through 3/4 in 1:12.6. On the far turn Watchyourownbobber swung out wide for the drive while jockey Jalon Samuel aboard Dorsett came through between horses to the inside of the pacesetter, getting 1 mile in 1:36.8. Under confident handling by Samuel, Dorsett drew off to win by 3 lengths over Watchyourownbobber in a time of 1:49.4, with War Envoy holding on for third and last year's winner Sayler's Creek finishing fourth.
horse racing

Pgm  Horse               Jockey         Win   Place
 1   Dorsett             Samuel       21.90    5.40
 2   Watchyourownbobber  Husbands              2.10
 4   War Envoy           Pino                  2.50

Winning Time:  1:49.80

$1 Exacta 1-2                28.55
$1 Trifecta 1-2-4            60.10
$1 Superfecta 1-2-4-10      225.70
Results Chart (race 8)

horse racinghorse racingLeft: Dorsett was not happy with all the ruckus in the winner's circle.

Right: Dorsett cools off in the walking ring after the race. Winning jockey Jalon Samuel said, “I feel very good. I just can't believe it. It's a pleasure to ride this horse. When we turned the corner and I saw the opening I knew I had it won. I saw the space between horses, I asked him to go on through and he ran it perfect.”

horse racinghorse racingLeft: The happy connections celebrate with the Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup trophy.

Right: Dorsett in the post parade. Dorsett was a graded stakes quality horse in North America back in 2014, including starts at Saratoga's Fourstardave Handicap (G2) and Woodbine's Nijinsky Stakes (G2) and Woodbine Mile (G1), but never hit the board in those races.

horse racinghorse racingLeft: Second place finisher and beaten favorite Watchyourownbobber in the walking ring. The Mike Maker trainee improved his record to 4 wins, 3 seconds, and 2 thirds in 13 starts, earning $198,490 for owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey.

Right: Owner Ken Ramsey doesn't look too upset to have finished second with Watchyourownbobber and fourth with Sayler's Creek.

horse racinghorse racingLeft: Third place finisher War Envoy in the post parade with jockey Mario Pino aboard. The Wesley Ward trainee improved his record to 2 wins, 3 seconds, and 4 thirds in 17 starts, earning $229,925 for owner Mrs. Gay Smith (wife of Coolmore's Derrick Smith).

Right: The horses approach the final turn in the Gold Cup and look how close the fans have crowded on the inner and outer rails!


horse racing
Iamsogroovy wins the Sandy Lane Spa Sprint Stakes

Kicking off the stakes trio at Garrison Savannah was the Bar$50,000 Sandy Lane Spa Sprint Stakes and Trophy (G1-Bar) for older horses sprinting 1100 meters (about 5 1/2 furlongs) around 1 turn. 3-1 second choice Markos was sent to the lead by jockey Antonio Whitehall through fractions of 24.2 and 47.4 while stalked by 25-1 longshot Wild Cat Tea and 15-2 Lavani. Entering the stretch, 7-2 Iamsogroovy came through between horses under jockey Jalon Samuel to win going away by 2 lengths over Lavani in a time of 1:05.8. It was a long 5 1/4 lengths back to 45-1 longest shot A.P. Vincero passing tired horses get third, while 6-5 favorite Shared Adventure lost rider Kyle Carter and did not finish.

Results Chart (race 4)

horse racinghorse racing
Left: Iamsogroovy and jockey Jalon Samuel parade for the fans after the race.

Right: Iamsogroovy in the winner's circle. The Victor Cheeseman trainee improved her record to 11 wins, 7 seconds, and 6 thirds in 37 starts, earning Bar$163,516 for ownership group Aysha Syndicate.


horse racing
Sirius Black winning the Tanglewood Stakes

Immediately before the Gold Cup, a field of ten West Indian-bred older horses went to post in the Bar$70,000 Tanglewood Stakes and Trophy (G1-Bar) over 2000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) around 3 turns. Jockey Patrick Husbands sent 4-5 favorite and local Horse of the Year Sirius Black to the lead immediately and he set fractions of 26.4, 52.6, and 1:15.6 while stalked by 22-1 Koh-I-Noor and 9-5 second choice Joshua. Entering the lane after 1 mile in 1:40.0, Sirius Black began to pull away from the pack, finishing up 2 1/2 lengths in front of 11-2 third choice Gayzing in a time of 2:08.2, with 8-1 Donicodidit checking in another 3/4 length back in third.

Results Chart (race 6)

horse racinghorse racing
Left: Sirius Black parades for the fans after the race under jockey Patrick Husbands.

Right: Sirius Black in the winner's circle. The Victor Cheeseman trainee improved his record to 12 wins, 12 seconds, and 1 third in 31 starts, earning Bar$252,186 for owners David Bynce, Steve Walcott, and Marina Corbin.

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