KDJM racing up at San Lazaro

MANILA, Philippines - A heavy weekend program starting today kicks off the ninth Klub Don Juan de Manila festivities with the organizers expecting record sales.

More than 200 of the country’s finest chargers are seeing action in the 12-race program and 13 tomorrow, including the centerpiece KDJM Derby presented by the Fontana Leisure Park and Casino at the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite.

“All of the races will be hotly-contested,” immediate past KDJM president Jun Almeda, who oversaw the balanced handicapping system, said. “The racing aficionados will enjoy as long shot winners could be plenty because there won’t be lopsided races,” he said.

For the first time in the organization’s history, added prizes of no less than P50,000 will be staked for each race winner outside of the four major stakes races.

The outpouring of support for the organization has made the big races possible, with Magic Millions of Australia chipping in its share by adding a huge sum for imported winners of the big stakes races.

Triple Crown campaigners Yes Pogi and Carriedo, both bred at the Herma Farms in Lipa, banner the nine-horse starting field in the P1.5 million Derby even as 12 fillies and mares headline the Don Antonio Floirendo Golden Girls’ Stakes.

The Triple Crown stars of next year, meanwhile, take center stage in the Juvenile Fillies and Colts championships backed by Philracom with Hermie Esguerra couple entries Divisoria and Dimasalang fancied in the Fillies’ race and Arvin Dugo the top Colts’ pick.

Ace Jonathan Hernandez rides Dimasalang, while JP Guce will handle Divisoria even as JG Tinte will partner Arvin Dugo, who should be sent off as the overwhelming first pick following the withdrawal of Naugh Naugh.