Bro Barack, Carriedo stage duel

MANILA, Philippines - Formidable stable mates Brother Barack and Carriedo try to live up to their lofty billing as local horse racing’s “future superstars” as they parade to the post as outstanding co-favorites in the second installment of the 2009 Philracom “2YO Open Stakes” Race at the new Saddles and Clubs Leisure Park (SCLP) in Naic, Cavite.

Coming off a 1-2 finish in the inaugural “2YO Stakes” last June 14 at the same track, Brother Barack and Carriedo will go for a repeat performance over 900 meters and a decisive lock at this year’s “freshman” division series, the undisputed domain of horse owner Hermie Esguerra’s racing and breeding operation.

Last year alone, Esguerra campaigner’s led by Go Army and Nuclear Power practically won all the major races for two-year-olds.

In what has become a noticeable pattern for the past years, the Esguerra home-breds once again lead the race for this year’s “2YO” honor.

Both colts own a victory against each other but have similarly been peerless against other rivals. Carriedo, by Deputy Bodman (USA) out of Astuce (AUS), was first to score a victory over Brother Barack in their maiden run last May 30. Brother Barack, by Mr. Sutter (USA) out of Tatler Cove, decisively returned the compliment in their next head-on in the “2YO Stakes,” winning the race by some seven lengths.

Brother Barack will be mounted by Antonio Alcasid Jr., while Carriedo gets the services of rider Kevin Malapira. Both horses are trained by veteran thoroughbred conditioner Clarito Alvarez.

Challenging the Esguerra pair are Rep. Jeci Lapus’ Ice Storm (Wow - Rosa Valentina) and Jose “Peping” Santos’ Matiyaga (Interrogate - Starry Eyed) in the race that offers a guaranteed winner’s prize of P300,000 sponsored by the Philracom.