Wind Blown top bet in 1st Gentleman’s Cup

Multi-titled Wind Blown, currently the best racehorse in the country, will shoot for his second victory this year against three other veteran stakes campaigners when the seventh First Gentleman’s Cup is staged today at the Santa Ana Park.

The Hermie Esguerra-owned Wind Blown, who recorded more than P12 million in prize earnings over the last two years, is favored to rule the 2,050-meter race. Out to challenge Wind Blown are Paolo Mendoza and Dioceldo Sy’s Batangas Entry, Aristeo Puyat’s Staunch Ally and Joseph Dyhengco’s Lyonnais.

A whopping P1.1 million awaits the owner of the winning horse with the runner-up taking home P350,000, third place P175,000 and fourth place P85,000.

First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, a racehorse owner himself, is expected to witness the event also known as the Silver Cup.

It will be only the second duel between Wind Blown and Batangas Entry following their exciting down-to-the-wire matchup in the Philracom Open last Dec. 29 at Sta. Ana. Wind Blown won that race to cap a spectacular season.

"We’re not saying that we will beat Wind Blown but we will give them a good fight," said Mendoza last week after Batangas Entry handily won the Senate President’s Cup at the San Lazaro Hippodrome.

"The PCSO is again a proud sponsor to the running of the First Gentleman’s Silver Cup, a testament of the PCSO’s commitment to the improvement of the local horse racing industry, which over the years, has been a loyal partner of the PCSO in the noble task of raising funds for charity," according to PCSO chairman Ma. Livia "Honeygirl" de Leon.

"More than the thrill and excitement of watching the country’s leading horses in action, this event should also serve as a reminder of the local horse racing industry’s significant role in generating much-needed revenues for the government, employment for our countrymen and additional funding for charities in partnership with the PCSO," explained PCSO vice chairman and general manager Virgilio Angelo.

In support of the PCSO First Gentleman’s Silver Cup, the Philippine Racing Commission is also sponsoring the P500,000 "Silver Cup Hopeful Stakes" earlier in the card and guaranteed prizes to the winners of all featured races of the day. - Ramon Romualdez