One of the greatest rivalries in Philippine Horse Racing History has just added another spectacular chapter in the recently concluded P4-million 2021 PHILRACOM-PCSO Silver Cup at the San Lazaro Business and Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite.

Billed as the Sunday Showdown, this installment of the Super Swerte – Boss Emong saga did not disappoint the racing public as the two protagonists were out to declare who’s the best older horse in the land.

With Edward Vincent “Don Edong” Diokno’s Boss Emong (Dance City out of Chica Una) a slight favorite over rival Leonardo “Sandy” Javier Jr.’s Super Swerte (Art Moderne out of Faster Tapper) the stage was set for a breathtaking finish.

At the start of the 1750-meter journey, it was the fast-stepping Union Bell who dictated the pace with Boss Emong a close second and Super Swerte within striking distance in fifth.

At the half-mile pole, Boss Emong was making a charge for the lead with Super Swerte also making his move inching closer to the leaders.

With 600-meters remaining, it was clear that it was going to be a two-horse race with Boss Emong in command by about one length with Super Swerte just on the inside.

It was around the last 200-meters when Andreu Villegas masterfully steered his mount from off the rail and moved toward the outside of the leader when Super Swerte responded with huge strides to level up on Boss Emong.

As they hit the wire, the Ruben Tupas-trained Super Swerte took the plum and the P2.4-million top prize by a half-length over Boss Emong whose connections have to settle for the P800-thousand runner-up prize.

Third place honors went to Union Bell(P400-thousand), then came Greatwall, Pangalusian Island and Princess Eowyn taking fourth to sixth, respectively.

Time of the race was 1:50.6 (9′-23-24′-25′-28).

In the P1-million 2nd leg of the 2021 PHILRACOM Juvenile Stakes series, Bell Racing’s Radio Bell (Sakima out of Radioactive Love) trained by Donato Sordan with premier jockey Jonathan B. Hernandez on board exacted sweet revenge over first leg tormentor Gomezian (Hot Yoga by Sakima) in a speed challenge for the ages stopping the clock at 1:35.4 with clips of 18-24-25-28′.

At the start, it was clear that the two top protagonists will be going toe-to-toe battling it out for the win waiting for the other to falter. But the falter they were waiting for never came as the one-on-one affair went on until the last 100-meters where Radio Bell just had enough gas in the 1500-meter race to hold off the late charging Enigma Uno, with Gomezian having to settle for third, while Ballet Champion came in fourth.

The win gave Radio Bell’s connections the P600-thousand prize that goes with the victory.

In the PHILRACOM-sponsored PSA Stakes, “Big Boss” James Anthony Rabano’s Mommy Caring (Striding Ahead out of On A Mission bred by the Esguerra Farms and Stud) traversed the 1600-meter journey unthreatened going wire-to-wire for the win and taking home the P300-thousand attached.

Runners-up honors went to Luke Skywalker, Tocque Bell, Money Changer and Arrabiata which came in second to fifth, respectively.

“We are very thankful to everyone for a very successful holding of the 2021 Silver Cup , PSA Stakes and 2nd leg of the Juvenile Stakes series. Horseracing is back on its feet so expect more exciting races in the coming days”, PHILRACOM Chairman Aurelio “Reli” de Leon said.