Work Bell wins Juvenile stakes

MANILA, Philippines — The Bell Racing Stable picked up from where it left off as its newest star horse Work Bell showed up the field with a masterful win in the 2020 Philracom Juvenile Fillies & Colts Stakes Race Sunday at the Saddle and Clubs Parks Leisure Club in Santa Ana, Naic, Cavite.

Ridden by former Philippine Sportswriters Association Jockey of the Year JB Hernandez, Work Bell measured up the opposition until the last turn where it seized control before blazing to a four-length win in the short 1,300-meter race.

The two-year-old colt sired by Outwork out of Colony Crossing clocked 1:18.4 with quartertimes of 7, 22, 22 and 26 seconds.

“Bantay-bantay lang noong una, noong nagka-chance, kinuha ko na,” said Hernandez, who has ridden Work Bell for just the third time, but with amazing result.

Work Bell is a stablemate of last year’s PSA Horse of the Year Union Bell, which went six for six last season, including the Philracom Juvenile Championship. Union Bell, however, failed to take part in the first leg of the 2020 Triple Crown Series last Oct. 4 due to a toe injury.

The win was worth P600,000 for Bell Racing Stable owner Elmer de Leon.

Kiss Muna, owned by Cipriano Sison Jr. and ridden by RG Fernandez, settled for the runner-up purse of P225,000, while Meteora (owner Peter Aguila, jockey RC Suson), received P125,000 at third spot.

Fourth-placer My Sweet Lord (Francis Lim, RA Base) got P50,000.

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, ensuring that only 25 percent of the usual crowd was present. Jockeys wore special face masks and eye gear, while trainers and other horse-racing personnel at the stables had hazmat suits and other protective equipment.

Off Track Betting stations are still not allowed to operate. But bettors for the races at the San Lazaro Leisure Park (Manila Jockey Club) and at the Saddle and Parks (Philippine Racing Club) can use Telebet as a means to place their bets, while the Metro Turf in Malvar Batangas utilize Fastbet.