Hagdang Bato first TC winner in 11 years

MANILA, Philippines - Hagdang Bato ended a long search for a Triple Crown winner, ruling the third leg the way he dominated the first two to become the first horse in 11 years – and ninth overall – to complete a rare sweep of the country’s premier racing series.

What looked like a punishing drive (2,000 meters) to racing immortality turned into a virtual walk to prominence as Hagdang Bato showed too much class – and staying power – to outclass the field and post another runaway victory at San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite.

It was another P1.8 million bounty for owner Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos, raising the horse’s earnings to P9.6 million, including around P5 million he won while campaigning as a juvenile.

Abalos had earlier said half of Hagdang Bato’s winnings yesterday will go to the less-fortunate residents of Mandaluyong.

The victory thus lined up Hagdang Bato, by Quaker Ridge out of Fire Down Under, along the past Triple Crown winners that included Fair and Square (1981), Skywalker (1983), Time Master (1987), Magic Showtime (1988), Sun Dancer (1989), Strong Material (1996), Real Top (1998) and Silver Story (2001).

Early in the race, ace jock Jonathan Hernandez seemed to have a tougher time controlling his mount than sizing up the opposition as Hagdang Bato jumped mightily out of the gates at the backstretch and engaged the quick-starting Golden Empire and two others for the early lead.

Hernandez gave in to Hagdang Bato’s posturing as the field made its first turn at the top of the stretch, taking the early lead briefly before yielding it back to Golden Empire as they passed the judges’ stand.

But Hagdang Bato simply wanted to showcase his sprinting prowess, surging past Golden Empire again at the clubhouse bend and engaging him up to the backstretch.

As Golden Empire faded, Humble Riches took the challenger’s role and pressed Hagdang Bato from the outside up to the far turn – to no avail as the prized horse zoomed ahead as they headed to the top of the stretch with Hernandez hardly applying the whip.

It was over from there as Hagdang Bato galloped home unopposed for the third straight time with Hernandez, looking back at the badly outclassed field for one last time, pumping his fist thrice as they crossed the wire, indicating his mount’s successful sweep of the three legs.

Hagdang Bato clocked 2.07.6 with fraction times of 25’-24’-26’-25-26.

Humble Riches settled for second worth P675,000 while Chevrome nipped Patron in a photo finish to claim third place and P375,000. Isa Pa Isa Pa, Humble Riches’ coupled entry, came in fifth followed by Golden Empire, Steel Creation and Penrith.