IT’S not unusual for longshots to win races sponsored by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, and it happened again last Feb. 13 at San Lazaro Leisure Park.
Pangarap won the PCSO 3YO Open Race as the far fifth favorite. Trial race winner Pinagtipunan was the favorite, but, running off the pace from Pangarap, could not pull away from the latter who ran wire-to-wire under easy handling and won by a length and a half.
Pangarap is owned by Roman L. Santos and trained by Pedro C. Sanchez Jr., and was ridden by Kelvin B. Abobo. The colt by Tempestuous Wind out of Glenn Rose clocked 1:35 for 1,500-meters (18-24-25’-27’). Pinagtipunan 2nd, Space Needle 3rd, Secret Kingdom 4th.
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PCSO’s next race is the Feb. 28 Freedom Cup mile for horses 4YO and older at Metroturf. The race pits lone filly Gentle Strength against colts Kanlaon, Biseng Bise, Low Profile, and Messi and Tap Dance (coupled entries).
For the agaency’s Mar. 12 3YO maiden race over 1,400-meters at Santa Ana Park, the declared runners are Wolverine, Big Cat Drama, Indianpana, World Famous, Silhouette, My Destiny, Tapped It, Lollipop, and Clear Time. The trial race is on Feb. 26.
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Congratulations to the honorees of the Philippine Racing Commission Honor and Citation Awards held Feb. 14 at SLLP.
Ruben Dimacuha’s Low Profile is Horse of the Year, having earned P5.45 million from 12 wins, four second places, and one third place.
Lawyer Narciso O. Morales is Horseowner of the Year. His stable earned P33.71 million in horse prizes (HoP) from 137 wins, 139 2nds, 138 3rds, and 169 4ths. Among Morales’s well-known horses are Messi and Spectrum, respectively the 10th and 12th highest-ranking horses of 2015. Trainer Fred Abobo received the trophy in behalf of Atty. Morales.
The Trainer of the Year is Ruben Tupas. With 238 wins, 176 2nds, 184 3rds, and 162 4ths, he earned P4.3 million, nearly double the earnings of the second-place trainer. In HoP terms, the horses he trained earned P56.2 million.
It’s no surprise that Jonathan Hernandez is the Jockey of the Year, after posting 182 wins, 132 2nds, 110 3rds, and 90 4ths to earn P4.5 million as an individual and P44.49 million in HoP of the horses he rode.
Oliver Velasquez’s SC Stockfarm, Inc. is the Breeder of the Year. Among the ranch’s progeny are Low Profile, Miss Brulay, Miss Brulay (2015 3rd leg Triple Crown winner), and multiple-stakes winner Princess Ella, among others.
The Most Successful Racing Event is the 7th Mayor Ramon Bagatsing Sr. Memorial Racing Festival, which grossed P40.55 million on Aug. 30 last year at SLLP. Manila representative Amado S. Bagatsing received the award in behalf of the Bagatsing clan.
According to Philracom Chairman Andrew A. Sanchez, the selection criteria are “the statistics and empirical data of earning and numbers of wins.”
It was my honor to emcee the event, graced by all the commissioners, regretfully sans Philracom Chairman Andrew A. Sanchez who is recovering from minor surgery. (Get well soon, sir!)
Commissioners Ramon S. Bagatsing Jr., Wilfredo de Ungria, Victor V. Tantoco, and Jose Santillan Jr. (all lawyers), with Bienvenido C. Niles Jr. and Lyndon B. Guce handed out the trophies. They were accompanied by veterinarian Andrew Rovie Buencamino, the agency’s executive director, and lawyer Pilita Venturanza, legal officer.
The host Manila Jockey Club was represented by racing manager Jose Ramon C. Magboo and assistant racing manager J-fel Cuevas.
Plaques for outstanding service were also awarded to Guce and Tantoco, the longest-serving among the commissioners.
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Herminio Esguerra’s Manalig Ka (Real Spicy x Tatler Cover) won the Philracom 1,400-meter 1st leg Import/Local Challenge also last Valentine’s Day at SLLP.
Ridden by jockey Fernando M. Raquel Jr. the 5YO colt earned P300,000 for first. Holly Bear 2nd, Miss Zizou 3rd, Cats Dream 4th. Time for 1,400-meters: 1:27.4 (12’-24-24’-26’).
The next Philracom stakes race for the month is the 1,400-meter 4YO and Older Stakes on Feb. 28 at Metroturf.
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