Afternoon stroll for She's Smokin

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

The improving three-year-old filly SHE'S SMOKIN easily justified favouritism at Caymanas Park yesterday, cruising home six lengths clear of rivals in the Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders Association of Jamaica Trophy (TOBA) over 1400 metres (non-winners of two), feature event on the 11-race programme.

Installed a 2-5 favourite with Paul Francis riding for 14-time champion trainer Philip Feanny and TOBA president Howard Hamilton, SHE'S SMOKIN won by all of six lengths from 7-1 chance GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY, who in turn was 11/4 lengths ahead of the third horse PRINCE OF ARABIA (24-1) in a field of 13.

SHE'S SMOKIN was settled in third from soon after the start as the fleet-footed MIRACLE RECOVERY (24-1) under champion jockey Omar Walker enjoyed a clear lead into the straight.

Serious chase

Sent in serious chase at the halfway stage, SHE'S SMOKIN turned for home two lengths second and effortlessly disposed of a faltering MIRACLE RECOVERY approaching the distance to win in the fairly good time of 1:26.0.

Bred by HAM Stables Limited, the top-notch stud farm co-owned by Feanny and Hamilton along with Clovis Metcalfe, SHE'S SMOKIN, a chestnut filly by Traditional out of Waterspout, was notching her second win from only seven starts, having made her racecourse debut on February 10 when finishing down the track.

Hall of Fame trainer Feanny said he was "very confident" going into the race and was quick to add: "She's a late foal and is just coming on ... so we'll see."

Meanwhile, following the disqualification of highly fancied MOJITA JAM on Friday, the stewards struck again yesterday by disqualifying yet another winner - RUNNING LOOSE.

The bang-in-form four-year-old filly, ridden by flyweight apprentice Conrad Ellis for in-form trainer Morris Powell, stormed through on the inside in the last 100 metres to win the ninth race over 1700 metres (overnight allowance) by a length, only to be disqualified and placed last following a stewards' inquiry and the race awarded to 17-1 chance RIVER STYX, who got up in the final stride to pip the 6-5 favourite BELOW THE WAIST (made most) for second.

Coming from well off the pace, hat-trick seeker RUNNING LOOSE was axed for having brought down the ever-present SLOGAN on the rails when barging through midway the last furlong.

Earlier on the programme, leading all-time jockey Winston 'Fanna' Griffiths, riding the 2-5 favourite SHEISMYHEART, brought the house down when giving champion jockey Omar Walker a riding lesson in the fourth race over 1100 metres. Both jockeys featured in a stirring last furlong duel with Walker aboard 9-1 chance HYPNOTICA pointing on the inside midway through the last furlong. But Griffiths dug deep, regaining the lead within shades of the wire, as SHEISMYHEART won by a nose.

The five-time champion and Hall of Famer, who rides sparingly these days, notched his 1,595th win at Caymanas Park.