Carriedo, Azcarraga top picks in Juvenile race

MANILA, Philippines - Two formidable bets from the same stable that produced the past three winners of the annual Philracom “Juvenile” Championship set out as heavy favorites to dominate today’s running of P2.5-million 2-year-old championship finals, a 1,600-meter race at the new Santa Ana Park race track in Naic, Cavite.

Classy colt Carriedo and superior filly Azcarraga, to duplicate the earlier feats of Herma-breds Defiant (2006), Indelible Ink (2007) and Go Army (2008) during their freshman campaign.

Racing under the banner of leading horse owner and breeder Hermie Esguerra, Carriedo and Azcarraga will be challenged by a crack field of 2-year-olds led by the Nonoy Niles’ streaking Invincible and Wilbert Tan’s Thotis Best in a possible preview of next year’s Triple Crown war.

With a guaranteed winner’s prize of P1.5-million, others in contention include Lakota Creek, Perfect Material, Thief in the Nite, Speed Spell, Rolling Thunder, Gastambide, Pinakamagaling, Ice Storm and Well, Well, Well.

Meanwhile, six speedy chargers headed by defending sprint champion Vivere will match strides in the P1-million Philracom “Grand Sprint Championship” – a 900-meter dash with a guaranteed winner’s prize of P600,000.

Set to steal the crown from Vivere is this year’s leading 3-year-old campaigner, first and third leg Triple Crown winner Heaven Sent, the grey filly set to rebound from a recent loss to Nuclear Power.

Likely to be in the thick of the furious battle for the lead are the other contenders including Batong Silyar, Minsk City, Eternal Flame and Music King.

Finally, nine (9) top notch imports led by KDJM Derby winner My Hope will do battle in the Philracom-sponsored P300,000 Off Track Betting Stations Association of the Philippines Inc. (OTBSAPI) Race, a 1,600-meter charity race for the benefit of the OTBSAPI Medical Mission and the indigent patients of the PGH.

Set to complicate matters for My Hope are 2009 ECJ Cup winner Fierce Fighter, stakes winners Holy Ridge, Mooney Money and Negligee, as well as, Botbo, Dolbella, Miss Elliot and Trinity Moon.