Mark My Word wins St Leger to complete Triple Crown

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

Surging into the lead from early in the straight, MARK MY WORD won his date with destiny yesterday, becoming the 10th Triple Crown winner at Caymanas Park, thanks to a decisive victory in the season's final classic, the RJR Jamaica St Leger over 2000 metres.

Ridden as usual by Panamanian jockey Dick Cardenas for trainer Richard Azan and owners Elite Bloodstock Limited, MARK MY WORD, installed a howling 1-5 favourite, powered home by 4 3/4 lengths from 2-1 second favourite, Wayne DaCosta's LIFEISJUSTFORLIVING, under champion jockey Omar Walker, in a field of seven native-bred three-year-olds.

impressive fashion

Having won the 2000 Guineas in April and the June 19 LIME Jamaica Derby, both in impressive fashion from the Lotto Classic (Governor's Cup) winner LIFEISJUSTFORLIVING, MARK MY WORD was backed as if defeat was out of the question.

Although giving his supporters some anxious moments during the first half of the race, when forced to run wide on the outside as Shane Ellis aboard the DaCosta-trained CLASSY PROSPECT shadowed his every move in fourth/fifth positions, MARK MY WORD finally went in chase of long-time leader LIFEISJUSTFORLIVING at the half mile, mounted his challenge at the final bend and gained the ascendancy with a furlong and a half to go.

Running down to the rails a furlong out, the classy chestnut colt by Market Rally out of Miss Chestnut moved away to win quite easily in the fairly good time of 2.07.4, but had to survive a stewards' inquiry.

Since MONT CLARE won the first Triple Crown at Knutsford Park in 1924, MARK MY WORD has become the 16th horse to accomplish the feat in the annals of local racing.

"As an owner and trainer, this is what I look forward to and it's a wonderful feeling to have won the Triple Crown," said Azan. "I knew I had the horse to win it and although a young three-year-old, he is a fantastic horse at this stage," added Azan, who teamed up with Cardenas and Elite Bloodstock to win the last double with 8-5 favourite KRYTOGRAM.

leading stakes winner

As a result of his Triple Crown success, MARK MY WORD, who has won four of his last five races, is by far the season's leading stakes winner with $9.4 million.

On a day when the 10 Festival Song finalists performed at Caymanas Park through the involvement of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission and Claro, MARK MY WORD was one of seven favourites to score on the 11-race programme which saw leading jockey Omar Walker taking a triple.

This included the unbeaten American four-year-old gelding CASSANOVA BOY, who raced to his ninth consecutive win in the grade one Viceroy Trophy over 1800 metres. He is trained by DaCosta, the champion trainer.

MARK MY WORD, with Panamanian jockey Dick Cardenas aboard, being led
back to the winners' enclosure by his groom, Donville Smith (right), and
owners' representative Randy McLean, following his Triple Crown triumph
in the season's final classic, the RJR St Leger over 2000 metres at
Caymanas Park yesterday. The classy 3-y-o colt is owned by Elite
Bloodstock Limited and trained by Richard Azan. - Colin
Hamilton/Freelance photographer