In front of one of the biggest crowds in Garrison Savannah history, Mark Goodridge’s IT’S A GAMBLE (English Channel – Yes It’s Pink by Yes It’s True) and jockey Jalon Samuel held off Ken Ramsey’s TALLAHATCHIEBRIDGE and Patrick Husbands to win the 40th Sandy Lane Gold Cup in Barbados. Both horses were listed as co-favourites at 5-to-2 at post time.
The biggest race in the Caribbean was returning for the first time since 2020, suspended since then due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and a fascinating field of nine went postward for the $214,000 (Bar) race at about 1 1/8 miles on the turf.
Ken Ramsey, one of America’s leading owners and a three-time winner of the Gold Cup, sent two horses from Florida, his homebred Tallahatchiebridge and recent claim American Diamond, joining recent Gulfstream claims It’s a Gamble, prepared for his Barbados run by Woodbine trainer Ted Holder, and Mo Hawk. So Suave (Ire), a claim from Woodbine also prepared by Holder and a winner in Barbados in his first try on the island made up a strong invading group meeting locals Renaisance Frolic, Vividly, Bodie Tap, and Brilliant News.
Originally scheduled to go off at 6:10 p.m. (Barbados time), the Gold Cup field didn’t break from the gate until 6:52 p.m., at the same time as the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) went off at Gulfstream.
It was Mo Hawk, a son of Uncle Mo trained by Robert Peirce, who set the early pace with the mare Vividly and Bodie Tap in hot pursuit. It’s a Gamble, with Samuel seeking a record sixth Gold Cup ride, rated in fifth about six lengths behind the leader while Tallahatchiebridge saved ground in last place into the stretch run for the first time. After a first two furlongs in 24.20 and half a mile in 48.80, Mo Hawk had a slight lead over Bodie Tap while Renaisance Frolic loomed four wide and It’s a Gamble, trained by Romell ‘Perkins’ Lovell, splitting that rival and the leaders. Husbands and Tallahatchiebridge were still in last place but beginning a fast finish.
With It’s a Gamble moving to the lead into the stretch run while out in the seven path, Brilliant News, owned by 8-time Gold Cup winner Sir David Seale, came up the inside to challenge with Tallahatchiebridge bursting between to get in range.
It’s a Gamble grabbed a short lead and held off Tallahatchiebridge to win by 3/4 of a length with So Suave (Ire) closing to be third in a time of 1:50.20.
Bred in New York by Ron Lombardi, It’s a Gamble raced for Lombardi’s Mr. Amore Stable for 21 races. The bay five-year-old horse won his debut at Saratoga at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf, was second in the Woodhaven Stakes in 2021 before winning the Jersey Derby at Monmouth Park on the dirt. That was It’s a Gamble’s last win. The horse was placed three times in 2022 in high-level optional claiming races before finishing a troubled fourth for $35,000 claiming on Jan. 18. Trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. and Paraiso Investments dropped a claim slip for the horse and sent him to Classic Mile Training Centre and Holder in Ocala.
It was the first Gold Cup win for Goodridge, a lawyer, and Lovell.
The Gold Cup was the fourth win in 22 races for It’s a Gamble, whose dam Yes It’s Pink won 3 of 13 races and $186,000 and has produced two other winners.
The co-featured Spa Sprint (Bar-1) was won by the mare JOQULAR, who was originally expected to compete in the Gold Cup but shortened up to 5 1/2 furlongs for owner Darwin Clarke and trainer Charles Williams. The Hard Spun mare caught heavily favoured Dominus, who had won six straight races, to take the Sprint by 1/2 a length under jockey Rocco Bowen.
PEOPLE’S CHAMP, by Happy Memories, won the $70,000 Tanglewood Stakes (Bar-1) for owner The Kids Syndicate and Stephan Narinesingh and trainer Andrew Nunes. Delano Lopez rode the five-year-old horse to victory in the 1 1/4 mile turf race.
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