First leg of Triple Crown Sunday

In what could go down as one of the most exciting Triple Crown series ever, 11 of the country’s finest three-year-olds are set to parade to the post Sunday to compete in the much-awaited running of the "Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. Cup," opening leg of the 2004 Triple Crown Championship at the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite.

Considered the breeding ground of champions, the featured showdown of three-year-old headliners signals the start of the lucrative three-race championship series and is traditionally held in honor of former Ambassador Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco Jr., pioneer chairman of the Philippine Racing Commission (Philracom), sponsor of the local Triple Crown since its inaugural running in 1978.

"Manila Jockey Club, Inc. is truly honored to host the opening leg of this year’s Triple Crown Series, showcasing the future stars of local horse racing competing in the country’s only modern racing facility," according to Henri Kahn, MJCI vice president for corporate management.

Heading the challege for the P1.67-million event are division standouts Speed O’War and Cover Girl, decisive winners of the first and second "Road to the Triple Crown" stakes races.

Fleet-footed Speed O’War successfully bounced back to winning form last week following his failed bid against the veterans in the PCSO Silver Cup, while big finishing filly Cover Girl parlayed her explosive April 11 "Road to Triple Crown" performance with another emphatic victory early last week at the SLLP.

Also expected to provide a big challenge is steadily-improving Don Paolo, chief rival of erstwhile Triple Crown favorite Empire King, who is similarly coming off a monster victory over highly-fancied TC contender Moab in a regular group race last Sunday.

Others who are also in the hunt for the P1-million winner’s purse are Batangas Force, Air Force One, Gorgeous Sand, Vindicated, Shadowfox, Modern Spirit and Cat’s Jewel.