Boss Emong poured on the heat in the final straightaway and staved off the late surge of Big Lagoon to rule the 2022 Philracom Gran Copa de Manila Friday, June 24 at the San Lazaro Business and Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite.
The whole 1600-meter journey was not a bed of roses for the grey champion by Dance City out of Chica Una owned by Kennedy Morales and bred by Tony Tan as the challengers stepped on the gas early on to try to break the pace with King Tiger holding the lead for most of the journey.
With roughly 600-meters left, premier jockey Jeffril T. Zarate said, “let’s go boy” and took the lead. They padded their lead to three lengths while Big Lagoon was making headway.
It was evident with 250-meters to go that Big Lagoon with Genius Rider Kelvin Abobo was a threat for the win and the P600,000 top prize so Zarate egged on his mount which eventually had just enough steam to eke out the victory.
They clocked 1:40.8 with quarters of 23′-24-26′-26′.
Third and fouth place went to stablemates Robin Hood and Magtotobetsky in that order.
“Kinailangan ko pang tulungan yung sakay ko sa alisan para maipwesto ng maganda si Emong dahil alam ko na susubukan sirain ng mga kalaban yung pace ng karera. Di katulad nung mga ibang akbo niya dati na kusa lang yung lundag. Siguro pumasok na din yung experience ko at hindi ako nataranta sa ganung sitwasyon,” Zarate said after the race.
With the win, Boss Emong is now the most dominant horse in local racing – thanks to recent back-to-back wins in the Philracom Chairman’s Cup and the Gran Copa de Manila.
In the Philracom Gran Copa de Manila Division 2 John Ericson Avelino’s Full Combat Order romped away with the win, taking home the winners prize of P300,000 for his connections.
