Only considered by most as a third option in the betting, Boss Emong proved to all that the Metro Manila Turf Club track in Malvar, Batangas is indeed his house by taking home the 2022 Philracom-PCSO Silver Cup last Sunday.

The Dance City out of Chica Una grey progeny bred by Tony Tan was nicely settled in fourth behind pacesetter and known speed horse Sky Shot through most of the 1800 distance while challenging for the front spot was Cam From Behind and nemesis defending Silver Cup champion Super Swerte.

But with half-mile to go, jockey Jeffril T. Zarate egged on his mount to start his move and slowly crept closer to the lead with Super Swerte and top favorite Big Lagoon in tow.

It was only at the final turn for home that the Kennedy Morales owned and Ernesto Roxas trained galloper levelled up with Sky Shot for a duel to the finish with Big Lagoon dangerously close in third at this point.

The spectators kept holding their breath as the duel in the last 100 meters was so close that it had to be decided via photo with Boss Emong coming out on top by a mere half-a-head over Sky Shot with Big Lagoon taking third. Super Swerte came fourth a further five lengths off, War Cannon in fifth and King Tiger managing a sixth place finish.

By clocking 1:51 for the distance with quarters of 13′-22′-23-24′-27′, Boss Emong added the top prize of P2.4-million to his earnings while the rest ofthe top six went home with P800 thousand, P400 thousand, P200 thousand, P120 thousand and P80,000, respectively.

“This surely was a race to behold as it held everyone at the edge of their seats until the official outcome was declared. This is the type of pulse-pounding races that the bayang karerista will expect in the coming days and weeks as we head toward the end of the year and the Presidential Gold Cup still ahead,” Philracom Chairman Aurelio “Reli” de Leon said in a post race interview.

He adds, “Congratulations to the connections of Boss Emong for a job well done.”