Trainer Jose William-Samaroo did a fantastic job Saturday on Emancipation Day at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, when he produced his three-year-old colt, Band of De Year, to win the Midsummer Classic, the second leg of local racing’s Triple Crown.

​Sent off at 6-to-1 in the betting on day nine of the Arima Race Club (ARC) racing programme, the colt gave punters a wonderful time as champion jockey Dillon Khelawan rode a very professional and confident race.

​Dream Maker led from All For Harry, and they opened up a five-length lead on the rest of the field, inclusive of the favourite, Sweet Bird. It was not until they got to the far turn that the pack began to close up. Though Dream Maker still led from All For Harry, Sweet Bird was travelling very well and coming to take up the lead. However, she was also being marked by Khelawan on Band of De Year. With 500 metres left, it was clear that one of this quartet would win.

​As soon as Sweet Bird struck the front, the onslaught came. Sayamanda began to close along with Pardy and the eventual winner, Band of De Year. Into the straight, Band of De Year looked extremely well, quickening up nicely to put the race to bed very quickly. Pardy made a strong run, coming past the others to snatch second in a photo finish from Sayamanda, who in turn edged out Sweet Bird for third, leaving the favourite to settle for fourth.

​Band of De Year won the feature in a time of 1:53.1. Unfortunately, the exact distances were not provided.

​The top trainer honours went to John O’Brien with two wins (races one and three), while riding honours fell to Khelawan, who rode four winners on the day.

ARD DAY 9 RESULTS

R1: MANIRAM MAHARAJ NATIVE BRED 3 YO AND OVER MAIDEN RATING RELATED HANDICAP – 1,100M – $16,800

1*(3)*Soca Monarch*D Khelawan*57

2*(1)*Princess Venus*A Balroop*53

3*(5)*Choc Nut*S Sookhan*51

4*(4)*Tower Of Power*R Jadoo*57

TIME: 1:09.2 DISTANCES: (Not Provided)

$1PARI: (3) $1.10

$1EXACTA: $1.35 QUINELLA: $1.05

TRIFECTA: $6.20

WINNER: 3 yo ch c – Jouvert/Soca Rhapsody (Market Rally)

OWNER: Lester Moore TRAINER: John O’Brien

BREEDER: Poon Tip Stud Farm Limited

ALSO RAN: 5 My Amour J Boodramsingh 55.5.

R2: VINCENT ROBERTS MODIFIED BENCHMARK HANDICAP 3 YO AND OVER HORSES RATED 30-0 – 1,200M – $16,800

1*(1)*Mona Lisa*D Khelawan*57

2*(2)*Just Isa Bella*J Stephen*57.5

3*(3)*Dreamcatcher*R Jadoo*58

4*(5)*Zee Zee*J Boodramsingh*58

TIME: 1:41.1 DISTANCES: (Not Provided)

$1PARI: (1) $1.70

$1EXACTA: $3.20 QUINELLA: $2.80

TRIFECTA: $9.55

WINNER: 7 yo dkb m – Da Vinci/Glorious Moment (Ministar)

OWNER: Patrick L. Boyce TRAINER: Richard Frederick

BREEDER: D Bennett, R Bernard & R Kanta Persad

ALSO RAN: 5 Judusty Rose RA Jadoo 52.5.

R3: JACK DEBIDEEN MODIFIED BENCHMARK HANDICAP 3 YO AND OVER HORSES RATED 35-0 – 1,350M – $16,800

1*(6)*Stock Broker*D Khelawan*57

2*(8)*Ukraine*T Phillips*54

3*(4)*Capital Tee*J Stephen*57.5

4*(7)*Prince Connor*J Boodramsingh*55

5*(1)*Uncle Ben*R Jadoo*54.

TIME: 1:26.4 DISTANCES: 1 3/4, 8 1/2, 5 1/2, 3 1/4

$1PARI: (6) $1.30

$1EXACTA: $3.25 QUINELLA: $2.40

TRIFECTA: $5.45 SUPERFECTA: $15.60

HI5: $54.30

WINNER: 3 yo b f – Jouvert/Market Rally (Gold Market)

OWNER: Pegasus Racing TRAINER: John O’Brien

BREEDER: Poon Tip Stud Farm

R4: JOSEPH HADEED MODIFIED BENCHMARK HANDICAP 3 YO AND OVER HORSES RATED 45-30 – 1,200M – $16,800

1*(1)*Marmalade*A Balroop*54.5

2*(4)*St Omer*T Phillips*54

3*(5)*Free Pass*J Boodramsingh*58.5

4*(2)*Brutal Execution*D Khelawan*57

TIME: 1:16.0 DISTANCES: 1/2, nk, 1, 7

$1PARI: (1) $3.35

$1EXACTA: $79.40 QUINELLA: $8.00

TRIFECTA: $78.90

WINNER: 4 yo ch f – Saint Vigeur/Blue Tequilla (Blue Pepsi Lodge)

OWNER: Alan J Cabral TRAINER: Jonathan Lyder

BREEDER: Jerry R Narace

ALSO RAN: 5 Crystal Alert R Jadoo 55

R5: ERIC DURANT MODIFIED BENCHMARK HANDICAP 3 .Y.O AND OVER HORSES RATED 70-55 – 1,500M – $21,400

1*(8)*Valiante*R Jadoo*53.5

2*(7)*Showtime*S Sookhan*45

3*(2)*El Chico Malo*J Boodramsingh*57

4*(5)*Striking Chrome*N Abrego*57

5-(3)*Soca Ecstacy*D Khelawan*57

TIME: 1:33.3 DISTANCES: 2 3/4, 2 3/4, 1 3/4, 1/2

$1PARI: (8) $6.20

$1EXACTA: $157.35 QUINELLA: $62.10

TRIFECTA: $102.80 SUPERFECTA: $1,965.90

HI-5: $2,668.30

WINNER: 4 yo b c – Saint Vigeur/Just Cruizin (Gold Market)

OWNER: Ronald Ragoobarsingh TRAINER: Ramesh Ramroop

BREEDER: Poon Tip Stud Farm Limited

ALSO RAN: 6 Uncle Rog A Balroop 54.5, 7 Forever Grand T Phillips 54, 8 Arsalan N Samaroo 54.

R6: PHVETHOSP VS LTD MIDSUMMER CLASSIC (GR 1 R) OPEN TO WI BRED 3 YO – 1,800M – $92,096

1*(4)*Band Of De Year*D Khelawan*57

2*(2)*Pardy*N Samaroo*54

3*(5)*Sayamanda*N Abrego*57.5

4*(3)*Sweet Bird*T Phillips*55

5*(7)*Dream Maker*J Stephen*54

TIME: 1:53.1 DISTANCES: (Not Provided)

$1PARI: (4) $3.55

$1EXACTA: $137.90 QUINELLA: $336.00

TRIFECTA: $437.85 SUPERFECTA: $1,028.10

HI5: $1,887.00

WINNER: 3 yo b c – Jouvert/Raeven Renae (Seeking The Gory)

OWNER: Mr Gap TRAINER: Jose William-Samaroo

BREEDER: Gary Pierre

ALSO RAN: 6 Power House R Jadoo 57, 7 Just My Konkees J Stephen 57, 8 All For Harry J Boodramsingh 57.