MOMMY CARING used an explosive start to rule the 2021 Philippine Racing Commission (Philracom)-Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Stakes Race with relative ease at San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite, on Sunday.
The progeny of Striding Ahead and On A Mission and bred by the Esguerra Farm and Stud of businessman Hermie Esguerra covered the 1,600-meter race in 1:41.9 (24’-24’-24’-28) to handily claim the P300,000 top purse for owner James Anthony Rabano.
“We expected to win,” said jockey Lester de Jesus who personally requested that Mommy Caring would be the last to enter the gates before the start. “This horse has some sort of a habit at the start.”
It was a formula that worked to near perfection as the three-year-old horse came out strongly from gate No. 4 and never let go of the pole, leading by two lengths heading into the far turn and by three toward the homestretch.
“ Mommy Caring’s a born sprinter and is at ease at the front,” said trainer Ramon Nartea, whose horse topped the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office-sponsored 3YO Maiden Stakes in September. “We knew no one will pace the race, so we were comfortable up front.”
Luke Skywalker rallied to bag second place worth P100,000, while Tocque Bell settled third for P50,000.
Money Changer, Arrabiata and Roll Da Dice wound up fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively, to get their share in the P500,000 guaranteed pot.
The stakes race was for the benefit of the PSA, the oldest media organization in the Philippines which includes sports editors and sportswriters from the country’s leading broadsheets, tabloids and online media. The PSA continues to extend assistance to members in need and those impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The PSA thanked the Philracom through its chairman Aurelio “Reli” de Leon.