Veteran jockey Jordan Cordova stuck to his team’s game-plan and was amply rewarded with Mam Candy recording their first victory together at the 2018 Philippine Horse Racing Commission’s Sampaguita Stakes Race on Sunday at the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite.
The Christian Daniel Velasco-owned filly played catch up for more than three quarters before turning the jets on in the last decisive 300 meters, leaving her rivals, including top-billed speedster Brilliance of SC Stockfarm and eventual second-placer Secret Affair behind for a three-length victory with a time of 1:53.4 in the P2-million stakes race sponsored by Philracom.
Mam Candy earned P1,200,000 for the win, while trainer Jose Mario Jacob pocketed P70,000 for the breeder’s prize.
“Sinunod lang naming ‘yung game-plan nu’ng trainer (Jacob). Pinakiramdaman muna namin ‘yung takbo, bago kami humataw doon sa huling diretso,” explained Cordova in a post-race interview.
Antonio V. Tan’s Secret Affair, ridden by CS Pare Jr., took second place, which was good for P450,000, while Benhur Abalos’ Heiress of Hope, with jockey FM Raquel on board, netted the third position with a winning purse of P250,000.
Real Flames (owner George Raquidan, jockey RG Fernandez) finished fourth and still pocketed P100,000.
In other results of the Sunday races hosted by the Manila Jockey Club and offering a total of 11 charity races, the winners were Electric Dreams (4th PPP Trophy Race), Hidden Light (Dalampasigang Manila Bay Trophy Race), Lucky Saver (Buhay Isang Awit Foundation Charity Race), Silver Glow (Senate Spouses Foundation Trophy Race) and Watermania (Dalampasigang Manila Bay Charity Race).
The rest of the winners were Ifyourhonorplease (Senate Spouses Foundation Charity Race), Garantisado ( Dalampasigang Manila Bay Charity Race), Chinita ( Senate Spouses Foundation Charity Race), Tango Eco Kieth (Dalampasigang Manila Bay Charity Race), Extravagant Woman ( Senate Spouses Foundation Charity Race) and OASIS (Mowelfun Charity Race).
Meanwhile, several prominent stakes races are still coming in the final two months of the racing season, namely the Ambassador Eduardo M. Cojuangco Jr. Cup, MARHO Racing Event and 1st Leg of 3YO Open Challenge Series on Nov. 4, the 3rd Legs of the Juvenile Fillies Stakes Race and Juvenile Colts Stakes Race on Nov. 18, the Grand Sprint Championship on Dec. 2, the Chairman’s Cup, Philtobo Racing Event and the 2nd Leg of the 3YO Open Challenge Series on Dec. 16 and the Juvenile Championship, KDJM Racing Event, and the 3rd leg of the 3YO Open Challenge Series on Dec. 31.