Trainer Anderson the big winner in Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes

CARL Anderson swept yesterday’s Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes as owner, trainer, and breeder of BURNING HEDGE, who franked his November 30 second-place run behind importee UNSPUN in the Mr Sensational, to beat LOVISA by eight and a half lengths in 1:41.2 on a fast track, crowning himself champion local-bred two-year-old.

BURNING HEDGE, sired by Hedge Fund and foaled by the Burning Marque mare, Burning Clearance, won impressively with Panamanian Dick Cardenas at odds of 7-2, powering from the rear of the six-horse field with a sweeping move three furlongs out to join leaders LOVISA and STRONG MIND at the top of the lane.

Similar to his previous run when outclassed by United States-bred UNSPUN in the seven-furlong Mr Sensational, BURNING HEDGE quickly took over on straightening and sprinted clear inside the final furlong.

Things started going downhill for 4-5 favourite DANKA and stablemate HAZELNUT prior to the start of the event. HAZELNUT, the expected pacesetter for DANKA, was fractious after being loaded into the gate and broke slowly.

Meanwhile, Raddesh Roman rode a three-timer to thwart rival Tevin Foster’s takeover attempt of the jockeys’ standings. Starting the afternoon one adrift of Roman, Foster pulled level on 129 winners by landing the second event with STORM VALLEY.

However, Roman responded with back-to-back winners – UNRULY BOSS and INDESTRUCTIBLE – before booting home American FEARLESS FORCE in the eighth to go three clear of Foster entering Saturday’s season-closing nine-race card.

RIDGE LINER was the only ripple in the Reggae 6, closing the mandatory payout at at odds of 5-1, returning $12,005 to winning tickets.

Consecutive short-priced favourites – SIR JOHN, STORM VALLEY, TORONADO STEEL, and UNRULY BOSS – made it smooth sailing for Reggae 6 bettors through the first four events.

INDESTRUCTIBLE winning the fifth at odds of 9-5, handing leading rider Raddesh Roman the second of three winners on the 10-race card, was always a popular choice with punters, keeping most bets alive to the final hurdle.

RIDGE LINER, out for the second time in 14 months, proved that he only needed to dust off the cobweb to turn tables on READMYLIPS, who was ahead of him when both were outsped by LAMBO GIRL at four furlongs straight a month ago.

Partnered by Canada-based Larris Allen RIDGE LINER made all at five furlongs straight, beating 4-5 favourite READMYLIPS by two and a quarter lengths.

Dane Dawkins, champion jockey 2022, on winter break from Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg, Canada, continues to show his class, making all astride Gary Subratie’s United States-bred DIGITAL ONE to romp the Boxing Day Sprint, bringing down the curtains on the 10-race card.