BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Six-to-one chance Portfolio Company captured the prestigious BDS$214 000 Sandy Lane Gold Cup in a dramatic finish to give American Hall-of-Famer Chad Brown victory in the 41st running of the event at Garrison Savannah here Saturday.
Going 1800 meters under Barbadian rider Antonio Bishop, the five-year-old bay gelding out-dueled 7-2 choice Cash Equity in the deep stretch to beat the three-year-olds and upward by half-length in a time of one minute, 49.6 seconds.
Another 6-1 bet Patssewingmachine, ridden by United States-based Barbadian jockey Rocco Bowen, finished third while favorite Jerry the Nipper, with outstanding Canada-based jockey Patrick Husbands aboard, trailed in fourth.
“[I’m] ecstatic. It’s just amazing,” owner Gay Smith said afterward.
Nine-to-one chance Spy Novel produced the early fractions, pulling the field through splits of 25.4 seconds for the quarter and 49.4 for the half. 15-1 bet Renaissance Frolic stalked in second, and Bishop was well poised with Portfolio Company in third.
On the far turn, Spy Novel still held the lead, but Bishop moved Portfolio Company into second place on the outside, with Cash Equity also beginning to make a run at the leaders.
Bishop got Portfolio Company to the front, just passing the quarter pole to lead the field into the final stretch, with Rasheed Hughes also bringing Cash Equity with a strong run on the outside.
The two then engaged in a thrilling duel before Portfolio Company held on for the win along the rails.
“I had my confidence. Obviously, all the other riders have to have their confidence, and I just came out on top,” Bishop said.
Barbadian Saffie Joseph Jr, the champion trainer at Gulfstream Park in Florida, conditioned Spy Novel and Cash Equity.
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