First-leg win fuels Guce’s TC sweep hopes

MANILA, Philippines — Heneral Kalentong’s first-leg win in the Philippine Racing Commission’s Triple Crown series at the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite on Sunday has fuelled veteran jockey JB Guce’s dream of a sweep in the most prestigious stakes race for three-year-old horses.

Guce has won Triple Crown races in the past with the likes of Carriedo and Shining Fame, but never the sweep.

“History ang habol namin dito (sweep), malaking karangalan sa isang hineteng katulad ko,” said Guce after steering Heneral Kalentong to a half length win over Cartierruo in a homestretch duel.

Only 11 Triple Crown champions have entered the record books of Philippine horseracing, namely Fair and Square in 1981, Skywalker (1983), Time Master (1987), Magic Showtime (1988), Sun Dancer (1989), Strong Material (1996), Real Top (1998), Silver Story (2001), Hagdang Bato (2012), Kid Molave (2014) and Sepfourteen (2017).

Heneral Kalentong stayed within striking distance of the lead pack majority of the way, before taking command in the final stretch and fending off the charge of Cartierruo, which ran for only the second time after a maiden appearance in a previous race.

“Mas bihasa siya (Heneral Kalentong) tumakbo, mas may experience kumpara kay Cartierruo,” said Guce, who rode the Benjamin Abalos Sr.-owned Heneral Kalentong for the first time, but with outstanding result.

Sired by Union Rags (USA) out of Lorinda (USA), Heneral Kalentong came out of the gates running third behind initial leader Four Strong Wing and Runway, before making a move in the final 600 meters. Heneral Kalentong timed 1:42.6 in the 1,600-meter race, with quartertimes of 24, 24, 26 and 28 seconds.

The win was worth a whopping P1.8 million for Abalos Sr. from the total pot of P3 million put up by the Philracom. Cartierruo (owner Melanie Habla, jockey KB Abobo) settled for the runner-up purse of P675,000, while Tifosi (SC Stockfarm, JA Guce) earned P375,000.

Union Bell, last year’s Philracom Stakes Race Horse of the Year, and the pre-season favorite for the Triple Crown, wasn’t able to join due to a toe injury.

To help stop the spread of COVID-19, only the racing clubs’ employees, Philracom personnel, horse-owners, jockeys, trainers and special guests were allowed at the venue.

In the Philracom Hopeful Stakes Race offering P1 million in total prizes, Prime Time Magic (owner Ken Logistics Forwarders, jockey RM Garcia) secured the victory and the top prize of P600,000. Spandau Ballet (Francisco Crisosotomo, FM Raquel) and Zenaida (Cool Summer Farm, OP Cortez) placed second and third, respectively.

The P500,000 Philracom 3YO Locally Bred Stakes Race had Sky Shot (Henedino Gianan Jr., JP A Guce) defeating Calbayog (Benjamin Abalos Jr., AR Villegas) and Abetski (owner Abraham Alvina, jockey RD Raquel Jr.).