RAGING?HOT?3-5 favourite Aston Martin ran out of time as X & X Inc.-owned Summer Time slammed the field in the 37th running of the Barbados Midsummer Creole Classic (Gr.1R.-Bar) for West Indian-bred three-year-olds (allotted weights) over 1 800 metres at The Garrison yesterday.
The Kenneth Stanton-trained filly pulled off a superb victory over her ten opponents on a firm track before a reasonable crowd.
Expertly ridden by talented Jalon Samuel, Summer Time settled mid-pack off the leaders as Run For The Money, Rickoshey, Iamsogroovy and Capere led the field to the quarter-mile post in 23.4 seconds and the half-mile in 49.1, with Summer Time, Forest Fire, Roars and Aston Martin trailing.
Unlike in the Barbados Guineas, Aston Martin ran at least seven lengths off the pace, which was 1:15.1 at the three-quarter pole and 1:39 for the mile.
At that stage jockey Reshaun Latchman sent Rickoshey home, with Samuel and Summer Time matching every stride.
Aston Martin had encountered some serious traffic problems and was yet to lose his stalker Roars. Rickoshey and Summer Time turned for home together with Summer Time clearly tearing up the track to a length victory.
Rickoshey ran superbly to take second. Anderson Trotman asked a lot of Aston Martin but only got enough for third position.
The run of the race came from Open Secret, who proved she will be a force to be reckoned with in the Derby – she closed from the back to fourth place under Antonio Whitehall.
Yesterday’s Classic now sets the stage for the final jewel in the Triple Crown, the Barbados Derby which promises to be very exciting.
The day’s other feature race followed the path of the Midsummer Creole Classic as yet another favourite, Kendal Moon, was shut out by improving colt Little Man Arran, the Bill and Hayley Blevins-owned horse under Kenny John getting two wins in a row with a one-length jump on the field in the Lady Miriam Handicap.
Nicely positioned just off the pace, the Jonathon Simpson trainee defeated his opponents in a race for three-year-old and older horses rated 88-100 and 87 and under over 1 570 metres.
Erados and Antonio Bishop also closed quickly but had to settle for second place. Vitality got leg-weary after setting the early markers but held on for third under Jalon Samuel, while Ring Time, running his best race for some time under apprentice Jewel Beckles, took fourth.
