Don Exequiel upstages top favorites

Long shot Don Exequiel served notice of his bid for this year’s Triple Crown when he upstaged the fancied hopefuls with a great run to rule the second leg of the Road to Triple Crown Stakes Race at San Lazaro yesterday.

Responding splendidly to jockey RC Baldonido’s urging, Don Exequiel drove past fading Tigres in Action and Sutter’s Royal at the far turn, built a four-to-five length lead as he swung for home before coasting to a three-length victory worth P600,000 for owner Hermie Esguerra.

Top pick Special Edition failed to flash her vaunted stretch-run ability and was even edged for second place by another unfancied bet, King’s Dominion, who took the P225,000 prize. Special Edition settled for third and P125,000.

Don Exequiel sold only a little over P20,000 in a nine-horse field. - R. Romualdez