Hagdang Bato seeks TC sweep

Manila, Philippines -  Hagdang Bato tries to become the first horse to complete a three-leg sweep of local version’s Triple Crown in 11 years and ninth overall as he leads the stellar cast in the final leg today at San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite.

Experts believe the punishing 2,000-meter distance won’t pose a tough challenge for this gem of a horse by Quaker Ridge out of Fire Down Under, much less the field he had dominated, given the form and class he flashed in dispatching his rivals in the first two legs of the country’s premier racing series.

After proving his mettle in a virtual sprint race (1,600m) in the first leg and outclassing the field again in mid-distance (1,800m) in the second stage, Hagdang Bato gets to show his staying power in a race many, if not all race fans, expect to cap the horse’s rise to local racing’s immortality.

Under the able reins of ace jock Jonathan Hernandez, Hagdang Bato turned in 1.52.2-second clocking in the second leg, winning by 10 lengths over Patron and four lengths farther over Humble Riches, a big follow-up to his 1.39-second effort, highlighted by a fast clip of 23 seconds and 23 1/2 in the second and third quarters, respectively.

The two challengers – Patron and Humble Riches – are also in the final leg roster, along with Golden Empire, Chevrome, Steel Creation, Humble Riches’ coupled entry Isa Pa Isa Pa and Penrith. But no one seems to hold any chance against Hagdang Bato in the battle for the top P1.8 million purse.

No horse has completed the rare sweep since Silver Story in 2001 with Ibarra, also owned by Hagdang Bato owner Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos, foiled in his bid in 2007 when he was forced to skip the final leg due to bone chip injury.

Seven others have scored the grand slam in Philippine horse racing, including Fair and Square (1981), Skywalker (1983), Time Master (1987), Magic Showtime (1988), Sun Dancer (1989), Strong Material (1996) and Real Top (1998).?Hernandez is set to nail his second TC crown after steering Silver Story in his rookie year in 2001.

His second leg victory was Hagdang Bato’s ninth in 10 stakes races and the impending win will hike the horse’s earnings to P9.6 million, including around P5 million he raked while campaigning as a juvenile.