BRUCEONTHELOOSE, RIDDEN by leading all-time jockey Winston 'Fanna' Griffiths, duly turned the tables on the previously unbeaten filly MISS RUTH to win the $3 million Pick 3 Super Challenge Trophy race over 1400 metres in a driving finish at Caymanas Park yesterday.
This marked the second race of three in the $9.5 million Supreme Ventures Jamaica two-year-old series which commenced on October 18 with the $2.5 million Cash Pot Only One For Me Trophy over 1200 metres which was won in post-to-post fashion by Percy Hussey's MISS RUTH, 1 3/4 lengths ahead of favourite BRUCEON-THELOOSE.
The betting made MISS RUTH, bidding for her fourth consecutive win, a marginal favourite at 6-5 under Panamanian jockey Dick Cardenas, replacing customary rider Shane Ellis, ahead of the Philip Feanny-trained BRUCEONTHELOOSE at 7-5 with Griffiths riding for owners Tres Amigos again.
As was expected, MISS RUTH showed superior speed to lead by a length from the 52-1 outsider SIR VALIANT, closely followed by the Feanny-trained WESTERN REPORT (5-1) with BRUCE-ONTHELOOSE racing just off the early pace in fourth, before being sent in chase leaving the half mile.
Although turning for home two lengths clear and apparently having a lot in hand, MISS RUTH failed to repel a strong challenge from 'Bruce' on the inside midway through the last furlong, the grey colt responding to a fanning right-hand stick to gain the ascendancy in the last 50 metres, winning by a neck.
Both finished 6 1/4 clear of 15-1 chance MY SPACE in third, while the well-backed FABULOUSCONNECTION (9-2), with Ellis aboard, was fourth.
Bred by the HAM Stables Limited, BRUCEONTHELOOSE, who is by Wheelaway out of Road To Justice, has now won twice from three starts for stakes of $2.67 million.
Griffiths, who rode a perfect race, felt the additional furlong made the difference:
"Having ridden him when beaten by Miss Ruth, I was confident he could turn the tables over the additional furlong, providing I didn't use him up too much during the first half of the race."
With MISS RUTH losing, the $1 million bonus being offered by Supreme Ventures to the owner of the horse good enough to win all three races in the series is no longer applicable.
Meanwhile, Feanny enjoyed a fruitful day by saddling three winners in BRUCEONTHELOOSE, BLUE MAGIC at 7-1 in the overnight allowance sprint and COURT YARD at 8-5 in Division Two of the Sunnyside Stakes over 1100 metres for maiden two-year-old fillies.
Returning champion jockey Omar Walker rode three winners in DOLLA WIN, MISS EILEEN and FIRE D TRAINER to reach 131 wins this season.