Atomica denies Blue Vinyl Triple Crown bid

A WELL-TUNED ATOMICA yesterday turned the tables on colts and geldings in the Jamaica Derby, using sheer pace to run her St Leger conqueror, BLUE VINYL, off his legs for the entire 12 furlongs.

Reporting for the derby with a scintillating seven-furlong exercise gallop of 1:25.3 under her girth and a clear run at the off, unlike her St Leger bumper-car experience, ATOMICA took command of the derby passing the winning post for the first time.

Racing clear of her St Leger hassler, BRINKS, entering the backstretch, ATOMICA claimed the rail and settled into cruise mode, awaiting BLUE VINYL, now forced to go in chase of the pacey filly from six furlongs out.

Having the colt exactly where she wanted him, forced to do the chasing, Dane Dawkins turned on the afterburners aboard ATOMICA approaching the three-furlong marker, an injection of pace that had Raddesh Roman pushing BLUE VINYL to make a bid entering the straight.

BLUE VINYL flattened out under pressure while ATOMICA changed leads and gathered her second wind. Though drifting to mid-track, ATOMICA flew away from BLUE VINYL, who wilted into third, relegated by BRINKS rallying for second along the rail.

ATOMICA handed Gary Subratie back-to-back derby victories following his feat of turning around CALCULUS six weeks after being acquired privately from champion trainer Anthony Nunes’ barn.

Owner Don Wehby, breeder Karl Samuda and Dawkins all had their first taste of derby success, a nine-and-a-quarter length victory clocked in 2:35.2.

Racing continues this afternoon with the 10-furlong Jamaica Oaks, the event ATOMICA passed up to exact vengeance against BLUE VINYL, a decision which earned the winning connections $4,050,000 from the $7.5 million Derby purse.