She's Smokin ready to exhale

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

The improving filly SHE'S SMOKIN should go one better when she faces 12 opponents in today's 3-y-o restricted allowance feature over 1400 metres for the Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders Association of Jamaica Trophy at Caymanas Park today.

From the stables of 14-time champion Philip Feanny, the three-year-old filly caught the eye when chasing home her more fancied stable-companion, the American colt RAISE A RUCKUS, in a fast-run 1500-metre race (1:32.2), finishing 1³/_⁴ lengths ahead of the useful SUPER CENTER in third.

SHE'S SMOKIN actually chased the front-running RAISE A RUCKUS and looked likely to pose a big challenge when looming large on the outside entering the straight. But RAISE A RUCKUS soon found another gear under leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths to beat her by 4¹/_² lengths.

Decent time

Still, SHE'S SMOKIN's time of 1:33.1 was pretty decent and, coming back in what seems a weaker field, should make no mistake with Paul 'Country' Francis again riding her from the convenient mark of 53.0kg.

Prior to the last run, the chestnut filly by Traditional out of Waterspout made rapid headway into third place, a mere 1¹/_² lengths away to KRYPTROGRAM over 1300 metres on July 10.

Significantly, the runner-up in that race, HERROYAL-HIGHNESS, paid tribute to the form with a good win, and this speaks volumes for the chances of SHE'S SMOKIN in her bid for this trophy.

What's more, she has looked razor sharp at exercise,galloping 5¹/_² furlongs last Saturday morning in a brisk 1:07.0, the last five in 1:00.4.

With her preparation complete, SHE'S SMOKIN should win from SI PUEDO and PRINCE OF ARABIA.

Elsewhere on the 10-race programme, the open allowance sprint looks a cinch for the unbeaten American colt DOUBLE THE HONEY, who bids for his fifth consecutive win.

Heading for the top

Conditioned by champion trainer Wayne DaCosta, who saddles four of the six horses declared, DOUBLE THE HONEY has done everything asked of him and is clearly heading for the top. He has worked brilliantly in preparation for this race, galloping 5¹/_²

furlongs in an eye-popping 1:05.1 last Sunday morning and should extend his winning streak at the expense of the vastly improved filly BRASH & SASSY.

Champion jokey Omar Walker again has the ride on DOUBLE THE HONEY.

Other firm fancies on the card are BELOW THE WAIST (working well) in the ninth race over 1700 metres for open allowance horses, FLAGAMAN to finally come good in the seventh, RED GOLD to go one better in the two-year-old race, the recently disqualified winner SHE'SMYHEART to atone in the fourth, and JUST A CAT ahead of MISS ATLANTIC STAR in the fourth