Nov. 27, 2006 — Leroy Gottlieb's chestnut gelding Kentucky Kris left no doubt as to the best thoroughbred in the entire Virgin Islands Sunday, crushing a field of six by some eight lengths in the John deJongh Thank You Special Handicap.
Running at the Randal "Doc" James Racetrack with Juan Oyola in the irons, Kentucky Kris covered the 1 and 1/16-mile distance in a very good time of 1:44.2 to take home the lions share of the $5000 purse. The St. Thomas contingent had a one-two finish in the race, as Wauwinet, with stateside-based Crucian jockey Kevin Krigger, outdueled Danzig Mon and jockey Junior Inirio for second place.
At the break, as expected, jockey Manuel Caraballo had local speedster El Chuso out of the gate first, with Kentucky Kris right there with him. They were followed closely by Carson Secrets and jockey Miguel Sanchez, with the rest of the field not too far back. El Chuso would lead the field into the backstretch, but Kentucky Kris gobbled him up at the five furlongs pole and he quickly dropped back out of contention. Now in the lead, Kentucky Kris was immediately challenged by Carson Secrets, just half a length back, with Wauwinet another one length off the pace. They were followed by Heart At Risk, Danzig Mon and El Chuso, now last.
As the horses approached the far turn, it looked as if a battle to the wire was developing between Kentucky Kris and Carson Secrets when the latters jockey had to pull him sharply up and out of the race. With no other challenge coming from the rest of the field, Kentucky Kris really turned it on. By the time he turned for home, he was well clear of the field by four lengths. He continued to open up on the field and crossed the wire 10 lengths ahead.
"The last time we were here we lost, and we took the loss because we know how it is in horse racing," Gottlieb said. "We also knew he had a long layoff prior to that race, and may have needed a race or two to get back in shape. What he did here today was to really show his class over these horses."
In the other major race on the card, the V.I. Lottery Native Classic, Guavaberry Star finished first. The chestnut filly, owned by Delroy Thomas, proved that she is presently the best native-bred thoroughbred in the territory with a six-length romp in the one-mile encounter. Ridden by regular jockey Miguel Sanchez, Guavaberry Star came first out of the gate and never looked back. At the half-mile pole she was clear by four lengths, and looking so relaxed it was obvious the race would now be for second for the rest of the field. She would go on to take the second leg of the native triple crown in a time of 1:44.1 in a hand ride.
Geepers Creepers, with Krigger in the irons, closed for second, with All Eyes On Me and jockey Inirio holding on for third. With two of the three races now in the bag, Guavaberry Stars trainer, Bernard Brown, will point her toward the Christmas races for the final leg of the Triple Crown. It will be the longest race of the three at a distance of 1 and 1/8 miles.
The rest of the days results are as follows:
Race 1 Class H 4 F Jockey $1500
Time: 50.2
1st Secret Weapon Elmo Barnes
2nd Elegant Eve Miguel Sanchez
3rd Deh Boogie Man Alphonso Claudio
Race 2 Class G 5 F Jockey $3318
Time: 1:03.3
1st Bahawani Victor Lebron
2nd King David Kevin Krigger
3rd Weapon Queen Miguel Sanchez
Race 3 Class E 1 Mile Jockey $3700
Time: 1:42.4
1st Sarazen Blade Victor Lebron
2nd Tulsa Boy Kevin Krigger
3rd Prayerful Angel Stanley
Race 4 Class F 4 F Jockey $3500
Time: 1:33.2
1st Fantastic Four Junior Inirio
2nd Come Home (STT) Angel Stanley
3rd Sunday Whine Victor Lebron
Race 5 Classes D&E 7 F Jockey $3800
Time: 1:31.2
1st Guiltless Miguel Sanchez
2nd Strawboss Manuel Caraballo
3rd Family Deelite Junior Inirio
Race 6 Open Mares & Fillies Jockey $3800
1 Mile Time: 1:43.4
1st Eloquent Dawn Miguel Sanchez
2nd Caribbean Colony Junior Inirio
3rd Pure Americana Victor Lebron
Race 7 Classes C 7 1/2 F Jockey $3900
Time: 1:35.4
1st Cananwill (STT) Elmo Barnes
2nd Bey Ivan (STT) Angel Stanley
3rd All The King Gems Miguel Sanchez
Race10 Classes B&C 1 Mile Jockey $4000
Time: 1:41.3
1st Vivid Cat(STT) Junior Inirio
2nd Broken Fuse Isail Dejesus
3rd Top Carte(STT) Kevin Krigger
