Hagdang Bato likely to sweep Triple Crown

Source: Manila Standard Today

After narrowly winning the first leg of the Philippine Racing Commission Triple Crown, over Steel Creation, Hagdang Bato redeemed himself by slamming out a convincing win in the second leg.

The much-awaited race was held Sunday at the Philippine Racing club's Santa ana Park in Naic, Cavite.

The fiesty 3YO colt owned by Mandaluyong mayor Benhur Abalos paced behind Humble Riches, Golden Empire, and Steel Creation which took turns int he lead. Sent off as the favorite, Hagdang Bato bided his time in third, followed by second choice Patron.

With Hagdang Bato's jockey Jonathan Hernandez determined to to make the missteps he made in the first leg, the duo rallied strongly ang grabbed the lead at the far turn, never looking back from there.

Patron came in second, Humble Riches third, and Steel Creation fourth. Total tine for the 1,800 meter races was 1:52-2. The winner's purse was P1.8 million, with prizes also allocated for second to fourth place.

Trained by Ruben Tupas, Hagdang Bato, (Quaker Ridge-Fire Down Under) is half-brother to Mayor Abalos's champion on Ibarra (by Yonaguska). He looks likely to sweep the Triple Crown this year, a feat last performed in 2001 by Patrick uy"s Silver Story.

With the domination of the 1,800 meter second leg, Hagdang Bato is quite the stayer and is certain to handle with ease the more challenging 2,000 meter third leg of the Triple Crown, set for July 15 at San Lazaro Leisure Park.

Apart from fame, honor, glory, and the huge prize money for first, his connections also have another incentive to win - the P500,000 bonus prize put up by Philracom for the Triple Crown champ.

Patron's chances, however, are not to be discoutned, as are Steel creation's which cane in second in the first leg.

Meanwhile, in the Hopeful Stakes for 3YO held Saturday, June 23 at the same track, Kenneth Causon's Isa Pa Isa Pa, steered by Dominador Borbe Jr. and trained by Ruben Clor, defeated six others, clocking 1:56 over 1,800 meter. 

Ikel came in second, Cinderella Kid third, and Spring collection fourth.

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Horseowner/breeders congressman Amado Bagatsing and lawyer Ramon "Dondon" Bagatsing Jr. himself a former congressman, revealed their preparations for the fourth chapter of the Mayor Ramon D. Bagatsing (RDB) Memorial Cup.

The racing event honors the sporting legacy of thier father, the late mayor of Manila, whore reived the Araw ng Manila (JUne 24) Gran Copa de Manila races at the now-defunct San Lazaro Hippodrome in Tayuman, Manila.

The brothers Bagatsing recently met with Philracom chairman Angel L. Castaño Jr. and executive director Jesus Cantos: Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office committee on races chairman Jose Malang, and PRC director RAmon P. Ereñeta Jr., executive vice-president and chief operating officer Allan Abesamis, and assistant vice-president and racing manager Dan Valmonte.

They discussed details of the event, which will be held at Santa Ana Park on the late mayor's birth anniversary of August 19.

Said Atty. Dondon, "We invite all horseowners to prepare their entries for the twelve exciting races we will have on that day."

There will be a thirteenth race on the card, the Philippines-Japan friendship Cup. 

Cong. Bagatsing, for his part thanked the event's major sponsors, Philracom and PCSO, which will sponsor two major races each- the RDB Cup Division I and Division II for Philracom, and two eponymously-named races for PCSO.

Watch this space in the future for more details about the event, which is consistently the one of the highest -grossing for the year; its first episode was a record-breaker.

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Our condolences to the family of the late retired admiral JOrge Necesito who passed away on yesterday after suffering cardiac arrest. He was the Philracom's executive director from 2006 until 2011. and afterwards a consultant there until, his untimely demise.