Philracom Triple Crown series unfolds Sunday

MANILA, Philippines - Boni’s Gem and Batangas Baron head the roster of runners vying in this year’s Triple Crown series which fires off Sunday at the Philippine Racing Club’s Saddle & Clubs Leisure Park in Naic, Cavite.

Nine other top three-year-olds are entered in the kickoff leg of local racing’s version of the Triple Crown, including Boudica, Creation, Dream Supreme, Go Navy, Heaven Sent, Lively Dude, Iconic, Mr. Diamond and Virgin Liberty.

The first leg offers P3 million, according to Philracom chairman Jose Rojas II with the Hopeful Stakes, featuring three-year-old horses that opted not to join the T-of-C, has drawn 10 colts and fillies.

“This is one of the keenly-awaited events in the local racing calendar. The number of runners that participated in the major event and in the supporting Hopeful Stakes shows that we have lots of exciting runners bidding for top honors,” said Rojas.

A total of P12.39 million is at stake in the three-leg series with the winner of each leg receiving P1.8 million.

The PRC will host the first two legs with the next leg slated on June 14 while San Lazaro will stage the final leg in Carmona, Cavite on July 19.

Vying for top honors in the Hopeful Stages are Action Sailor, Bahala Na, Blue Ocean, Eternal Flame, Earresistable, Henry Sugar, Oko Boy, Princess Jacklyn, State Witness and Tribal Queem.