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Jamaica’s Mouttet Mile is now the richest horse race in the Caribbean, boasting a purse of US$250,000, while the horse-racing world turns its attention to Caymanas Park, the broadcast home of FOX Sports’ America’s Day at the Races today.
Tuesday’s Mouttet Mile post-position draw at ROK Hotel, downtown Kingston, tingled with excitement as the 16-horse field took shape.
Watching intently were connections of six United States invitees, plus five overseas-bred horses domiciled in Jamaica before January 1, taking on the country’s top five native-bred runners, led by ATOMICA, two-time Horse of the Year and three-time Jamaica Cup winner.
ATOMICA, who recently beat foreigners to secure a Jamaica Cup hat-trick and win-and-you’re-in ticket to her third Mouttet Mile, is owned by former senator Donald Wehby and bred by Member of Parliament Karl Samuda.
Dane Dawkins, champion jockey 2022, on winter break from Canada’s Assiniboia Downs, partners ATOMICA, hoping for better luck after the mare had decked him three furlongs out in last year’s race won by Rohan Crichton’s American invader, ROUGH ENTRY.
However, the local runners and their overseas-bred counterparts will have a tough task denying the American invitees, especially Crichton’s pair of COMMANDANT and LEGACY ISLE, a son of Preakness Stakes winner Shackleford.
LEGACY ISLE, who competed in last year’s Fountain of Youth Stakes and has won at Gulfstream Park, Florida, as recently as July 20, a US$75,000 handicap event in which he sat just off the pace at a mile, proving his class in 1:37.1, produced an intimidating workout at Caymanas Park last Sunday afternoon, his first speed gallop after clearing quarantine days earlier.
Punters, who turned out in droves to watch LEGACY ISLE, were not disappointed as the American had a drone struggling to keep pace overhead.
SLUGGISH START
A bit sluggish at the off, 25.0 for the first quarter, 11.4 for the third furlong, signalled the start of a spectacular workout as LEGACY ISLE breezed 48.1, 1:00.2, 1:13.2, 1:27.0 for seven furlongs, a mile in 1:42.3, covering nine furlongs in 1:58.3, never off the bridle.
Following the blueprint of his victory last year with ROUGH ENTRY, flying in Frenchman Julien Leparoux, Crichton has summoned Florida-based Emisael Jaramillo to defend his Mouttet Mile title.
Americasbestracing.net describes Jaramillo, a native of Venezuela, as being “among the top jockeys at Gulfstream Park and Gulfstream Park West since his arrival in South Florida”.
In 2015 and 2016, Jaramillo won graded stakes with X Y Jet, Grand Tito, and Delta Bluesman. He also won the $2.5 million Dubai Golden Shaheen in 2019 on X Y Jet, and later that year took the Amsterdam Stakes at Saratoga aboard speedy three-year-old Shancelot.
ATOMICA’s stablemate, DESERT OF MALIBU, one of five local-based Americans in the line-up, could be LEGACY ISLE’s sole threat on the lead. DESERT OF MALIBU clocked a sizzling 1:12.3 for six furlongs in the November 9 Port Royal Sprint, dismissing WALL STREET TRADER and IS THAT A FACT.
A spinoff of the Diamond Mile, which ran from 2015-2019 with a purse of US$150,000, the Mouttet Mile has attracted significant overseas media interest from one of North America’s biggest racing jurisdictions, the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA).
Following a successful broadcast of the 2023 Mouttet Mile on America’s Day at the Races, NYRA has partnered with local horse-racing promoting company, Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL), establishing FOX Sports as the television home of the 2024 Mouttet Mile, providing live coverage and on-site analysis from Caymanas Park.
NYRA’s senior racing analyst, Andy Serling, will provide commentary alongside Acacia Clement, NYRA Television Analyst and Reporter from Caymanas Park, starting with previews and features throughout the week leading up to the Mouttet Mile.
Bloodhorse Magazine quoted the FOX package as being the feature “Mouttet Mile and Grade 3 Chairman’s Plate Invitational will be the featured races in addition to highlighting Jamaica’s natural beauty and historical sites, creating a comprehensive viewing experience that celebrates both the sport and the culture of the island”.
Solomon Sharpe, chairman, SVREL, said he was “incredibly pleased” with the output and reception of last year’s Mouttet Mile, which aired to a US audience for the first time thanks to NYRA and FOX Sports.
“We’re optimistic about the growth of racing in Jamaica and are excited to play a part in bringing this world-class event to an international stage,” added Sharpe, pointing out that plans include featuring the Mouttet Mile and Chairman’s Plate in an international edition of NYRA’s Cross Country Pick 5 wager planned for December 7.
Tony Allevato, NYRA’s chief revenue officer, hailed the partnership with Caymanas Park.
“Expanding the distribution and reach of quality thoroughbred racing is the primary focus of NYRA’s partnership with FOX Sports. This partnership aligns with that goal, and we look forward to presenting live television coverage of this year’s Mouttet Mile from Caymanas Park,” Allevato said.
English (US) ·