Pack Plays pounces on Of A Revolution’s second flop

Mouttet Mile Day’s Bruceontheloose Sprint winner, seven-year-old Florida-invader OF A REVOLUTION, flopped for the second consecutive race this season, outsprinted by fellow American PACK PLAYS in yesterday’s Eileen Cliggott Memorial at six and a half furlongs.

Seemingly destined for a season as a crack grade-one sprinter after humbling DESERT OF MALIBU in the December 6 Bruceontheloose, clocking 1:19.2 at six and a half furlongs, OF A REVOLUTION hit his first speed bump on New Year’s Day, finishing second to GIRVANO in the Miracle Man Cup, followed by yesterday’s loss, outsped by PACK PLAYS.

Refitted with blinkers and tongue-tie added, five-year-old PACK PLAYS, who had taken his chances in the Mouttet Mile for a crack at US$300,000 but was chased off the lead in back-to-back races by runner-up LEGACY ISLE, revelled out front with the pace-ease, leading DIGITAL LIGHT in moderate splits of 24.0 and 47.2 for the first half-mile.

Spinning into the lane with DIGITAL ONE chasing on his outside and OF A REVOLUTION running the rail after improving into third past SUPREMASI, PACK PLAYS, who was third a furlong out in the Mouttet Mile behind winner RIDEALLDAY and LEGACY ISLE, reproduced that form to win by two and a half lengths, eased close home by Christopher Mamdeen at odds of 2-1.

PACK PLAYS’ crippling 1:12.3 split, a half-furlong out, left OF A REVOLUTION fending off DIGITAL ONE by a head for the runner-up spot behind his 1:19.0, notching a fifth win from 16 starts locally.

Meanwhile, five-time champion jockey Omar Walker guided 10-1 shot OIL MACHINE to a sharp win, beating non-winners of an overnight-allowance at seven and a half furlongs in the Bonnie Blue Flag Trophy, stalking before pouncing on MACK AND ROME coming off the home turn.

MARK MY IDENTITY, the even-money favourite, made a bid in the stretch run but faltered under topweight 126lb, finishing third, a nose adrift of runner-up MACK AND ROME.

Champion trainer Jason DaCosta saddled two winners, landing the second with 9-5 chance PRINCE ROY with Tevin Foster aboard, before returning to close the 10-race card with United States-bred four-year-old filly, ROMAN LADY, who made all at six furlongs with Robert Halledeen on her second start, repelling a wall of horses to beat 7-1 chance CHOO BLUE, who closed fast along the rai to get within a neck of the 3-2 favourite.

Two-time defending champion jockey Raddesh Roman booted home a two-timer, opening the programme astride 7-2 chance TIFFANY BLUE, returning to land the third aboard 3-5 favourite SENOR BISCOTTI, beating three-year-old maidens at six and a half furlongs.

Racing continues February 7-8, the first dual meet of the new season.