Danka the firm choice for Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes

A SMALL but feisty field of six runners, dominated by four fillies, square off for Saturday’s Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes at a mile, hoping to be crowned champion native two-year-old.

Among the lineup are three BGLC-TOBA Millionaires Series winners – STRONG MIND, LOVISA and DANKA – each having won $1 million bonus races in Series 1 for native two-year-olds at various distances.

However, the marker race for the Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes crown must be the seven-furlong Mr Sensational, a BGLC-TOBA Millionaires Series 2 event won by United States-bred UNSPUN on November 30.

An open event for local and imported runners, maidens and winners, with a $2 million bonus carryover up for grabs, the Mr Sensational was tailor-made for UNSPUN, who proved he was a cut above local rivals.

Following up on his almost nine-length win of his previous race at six furlongs, far-striding UNSPUN bullied his way between DANKA and LOVISA a furlong and a half out to reel in BURNING HEDGE approaching the final half-furlong.

DANKA, who broke with the field but took a while to get going down the backstretch, tailed off at the half-mile marker, made eye-catching gains to straighten almost alongside UNSPUN with a threatening run against the rail.

Just as she was switched from off the rail to challenge BURNING HEDGE, who had taken over from early leaders, UNRULY MO and LOVISA, DANKA was pushed back to the barrier by UNSPUN, costing the filly valuable ground at a most crucial stage of the stretch run.

Taken in hand by Tevin Foster and switched wide for the second time, DANKA was too late, losing the runner-up spot to BURNING HEDGE after UNSPUN had flown the coop.

Having worked extremely well, seven furlongs out the mile chute in 1:28.0, Richard Azan’s DANKA looks set to give Oakridge Farms’ first-season stallion Aveenu Malcainu (Into Mischief-Island Time) his first big-race winner.

DANKA’s dam, Baby P, a Market Rally-sired mare, was also trained by Richard Azan and among the runners in the 2015 Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes.

Azan also has HAZELNUT in the lineup. However, the Soul Warrior-Money Magnet offspring appears to be a sprinter, who could be asked to keep the likes of STRONG MIND and LOVISA honest for DANKA to pounce in the stretch run.