Success Story spells failure for W Bound

Twice a failure in this year’s local version of the Triple Crown series, Success Story won the race that mattered most in local racing’s premier event, ruling the third and final leg — the Horseman’s Cup — and foiling West Bound’s bid for glory at the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite yesterday.

Success Story’s triumphant story was replete with irony.

A noted speedster, Success Story prevailed over the longest distance disputed on local tracks — 2,000 meters. And the man responsible for the shocking win was the very same jockey who piloted West Bound to the victory in the first leg — Jonathan Hernandez.

Hernandez, one of the best jockeys to have come out of the ranks, got suspended heading into the second leg of the series, prompting the C&H Enterprises, owner of West Bound, to transfer the reins to Jeffril Zarate, who in turn steered the talented horse to a one-sided victory in the Ongpin Cup.

But Hernandez had other things in mind.

Spared of a worthy rival in front, Hernandez and Success Story cruised along majority of the punishing race, then built enough lead over Security Master and High Octane heading into the final bend before thwarting the rallying West Bound at the wire.

The win was worth P1 million for owner BP Niles III, whose talented horse placed third in the first leg and then fifth in the second — both losing steam after pacing the elite field of three-year-old horses. — Ramon Romualdez

West Bound settled for P376,750 second prize while Secret Lover rallied to take third worth P209,250 for M. Tirona followed by Security Master.

Others, however, blamed West Bound’s unpleasant workout for his failure to become the ninth horse to sweep the Triple Crown series.

The three-year-old horse by Heza Gone West out of Fair Maiden ran wild during a recent workout , throwing the exercise jockey, not Zarate, off his mount and then circling the vast track at least three times until he faded out.

That somehow showed yesterday as West Bound appeared spent while chasing Success Story down the stretch, falling a horse-length short on his bid to become only the ninth horse to sweep the Triple Crown series. — With report from Ramon Romualdez