Jamaican part-owners will be cheering for Atomically at Keeneland today

IT'S not coincidental that ATOMICALLY, a 12-1 morning line for today's NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky, has a name strikingly similar to ATOMICA, this year's Jamaica Derby winner at Caymanas Park.

The six-and-three-quarter lengths winner of the October 1 Florida Thoroughbred Breeders Owners Association Florida Sire My Dear Girl Stakes is part-owned, 50-50, by Jamaican connections and world-renowned Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners.

Michael Bernard, champion owner in Jamaica for 2019 and 2020, owns two-sixths of ATOMICALLY whereas fellow Jamaican Eddie Chai holds a sixth. Eclipse owns three-sixths of the filly, who is fancied in some quarters to land the US$2 million Breeders Cup Juvenile fillies.

Eclipse is led by Aron Wellman, a licensed attorney in the State of California and lifelong horseman, and Brian Spearman, a 32-year PepsiCo Executive and lifelong horse racing fan turned professional.

How Eclipse bought into ATOMICALLY is the typical story of a big racing ownership group swooping in on a rising star. However, Jamaicans owning a half of the action is a tale worth hearing.

Everything about ATOMICALLY screams Jamaica. Her dam, SHESUNBELIEVABLE, was bought by Jamaican trainer Jose Pinchin at the Ocala Breeders Sale, inviting Bernard and a fellow countryman as partners, with the intention to race her at Gulfstream Park where he is based.

The third party opted out after which Bernard called on two of his countrymen, veterinarian Dr Graham Brown and Chai to each buy a third of SHESUNBELIEVABLE.

However, SHESUNBELIEVABLE developed problems and was sent to stud at Ocala at which point Dr Brown jumped ship, selling his sixth to Bernard.

SHESUNBELIEVABLE produced a filly, which Bernard named ATOMICALLY, after GraceKennedy's CEO Don Wehby-owned Jamaican champion, ATOMICA, trained by Gary Subratie.

"Don had a filly burning up the track in Jamaica, ATOMICA, so I named her ATOMICALLY," Bernard said, a name the Girvin-sired filly blew up after placing third in her August 19 debut.

ATOMICALLY destroyed a maiden field by seven lengths on September 2 and won the Sire My Dear Girl in a faster time than the colts and geldings' equivalent race.Then Eclipse came calling with an offer Pinchin couldn't refuse.

Pinchin sold his two-sixths but Bernard and Chai held on to their share. However, Eclipse's offer required Bernard to give up a sixth for top North American trainer Todd Pletcher to take over the reins from Pinchin.

"I own two-sixths, Chai a sixth and Eclipse 50 per cent," said Bernard, who has 40-plus horses in Jamaica, concentrated in breeding operations.

Dr Brown is still kicking himself for opting out of the partnership with SHESUNBELIEVABLE, who now has a yearling filly by Khozan and is in foal to Uncle Chuck.

However, he and Pinchin will be cheering from the sidelines today for Jamaica and Florida-bred ATOMICALLY.

The filly will be ridden by top rated jockey Luis Saez and post time is 2:40 p.m. Jamaica time.