Klub Don Juan de Manila derby on at San Lazaro

MANILA, Philippines - The eighth Klub Don Juan de Manila racing festival unfolds today with the P1.5-million KDJM Derby serving as the main event at the San Lazaro Leisure Park.

Imported fillies Botbo and My Hope are tipped to crowd it out for the P900,000 top prize in the 2,000-meter derby which also drew import Red Carpet and lone local entry Oh Wacky.

The event is expected to hit gross sales of P15.8 million.

KDJM president Lamberto “Jun” Almeda said also on tap as major races in the annual spectacle backed chiefly by the Philracom, PCSO, San Miguel Corp., Pagcor, DENR Sec. Lito Atienza, Magic Millions, Don Antonio Floirendo Sr., MJCI, Junna Logistics, Modomo Clinic, La Travesia Park, ACR Furniture, San Juan Coliseum and Mercury Farms are the Golden Girls Stakes over 1,750 meters and the Juvenile Colts and Juvenile Fillies, both to be contested over 1,400 meters.

Botbo, a three-year-old daughter of Reenact out of On the Corso, scored an impressive triumph in a special race last Oct. 11 to get the tipsters’ nod as the best bet to bag the winner’s trophy for the Container Bridge Philippines.

My Hope (Manner Hill-Cathy’s Joy by Orojoya) is also strongly considered due to her excellent workouts.

Recent Sapphire II winner Ms. Abby Kat heads the Golden Girls cast and she will be tested by Weder Weder Lang, Traditional, Fairy Queen, Santeria, Best of Both Worlds, Tiger is Ready and Fierce Fighter.

The Esguerra Stable’s “street gallopers” are heavily favored in the two-year-old hostilities. Gastambide is picked to rule the Juvenile Colts, while Azcarraga is tagged to dominate the Juvenile Fillies.

Battling Gastambide are San Francisco, Bertong Balutan and Lakota Cereek, while facing Azcarraga are Ice Storm, My Heart’s Delight and Ready to Rumble.

Longshot import Holy Ridge ruled last year’s derby.