There was plenty of love for Reshawn Latchman yesterday.
The red-hot jockey continued his impressive form for 2014, as he guided home three winners on the Valentine’s Raceday at the Garrison Savannah.
Under overcast skies with intermittent showers, the 22-year-old former Coleridge & Parry student spectacularly piloted home Lune De Barachois to win the feature Valentine’s Handicap over 1 100 metres.
The win by the Lewin Godding-owned mare over four-year-old and older horses rated 120-140 and also open to horses rated 119, gave champion trainer Victor Cheeseman a double on the Barbados Turf Club’s fifth day of the first racing season.
Latchman’s superb ride was masterminded from off the pace, and not only stumped raging hot favourite Shared Adventure and Gold Cup winner Aristodemus, but secured the Bubba Sports Bar & Restaurant-sponsored Sunday buffet and breakfast Ride Of The Day.
Vitality pitched at the start and lost his rider Jalon Samuel, leaving Seattle Sunshine with the lead, followed by Shared Adventure, Run For Your Money, Lune De Barachois and A.P Vincero, while Aristodemus trailed.
Near the two-furlong pole Run For Your Money made a quick surge for the lead, holding it for just a furlong. Seattle Sunshine had something reserved in the tank and reclaimed the top spot and brought the field into the home turn with Shared Adventure still looming on the outside.
Inside the last furlong, when it looked as though Seattle Sunshine was going to get the job done, her lone challenger, Shared Adventure, couldn’t muster the necessary last effort to win.
With fewer than 50 metres to go, Lune De Barachios and Latchman appeared in the picture with blood in their eyes. In less than a blink of an eye the pair sailed by the tiring speedsters Seattle Sunshine, ridden by Damario Bynoe, and Shared Adventure, with Dario Dalrymple up, in that order, for the sensational result.
Run For Your Money, partnered by Jonathon Grant, faded to finish fourth.
Latchman’s treble started with a patient ride astride PDD Syndicate-imported brown colt Sarava Point. They held off a mid-stretch surge by Daunting David to capture the Love Dove Condition Race for non-West Indian-bred three-year-old and older maidens over 1 570m.
Immediately after, Janak’s Gold who is entered for the $70 000 Tanglewood Stakes & Trophy on Gold Cup day, made it a hat-trick of wins.
Owned by Bill and Haley Blevins, the Jonathon Simpson-trained gelding’s victory further enhanced his chances of being a major force in that 2 000-metre event.
Cheeseman also won Race 6, the Aphrodite Handicap, with Vandross, whom he also owns. The race was for four-year-old and older horses rated 52-70 and also open to horses rated 51 and below over 1 570 metres.
Action in the fast lane continues on February 22.
