Pack Plays runs away with Eileen Cliggott Memorial

PACK PLAYS yesterday reproduced his Mouttet Mile speed to dismantle top-class rivals in the Eileen Cliggott Memorial at six-and-a-half furlongs.

Sent off as the 7-5 favourite, the four-year-old American, who led December’s Mouttet Mile, turning for home second behind runner-up LEGACY ISLE, tore away from WALL STREET TRADER down the backstretch before blitzing three-time Jamaica Cup winner, ATOMICA, in splits of 23.2 and 46.4 into the lane.

Motionless and glancing through his legs a furlong and a half out, Panamanian Ismael Velasquez asked PACK PLAYS to quicken, leaving quirky ATOMICA in his wake, the mare swerving towards the rail when WALL STREET TRADER loomed to her right.

Flashing past the half-furlong pole in 1:11.3, PACK PLAYS won in 1:18.1, a shade slower than the 1:17.3 he had clocked on debut last September.

The Stay Thirsty-Standard Deal colt finished four lengths clear of WALL STREET TRADER, who completed the exacta owner Maine, ATOMICA staying on third ahead of IS THAT A FACT, who was outsped from the off.

Shane Ellis rode two winners on the nine-race card, an armchair ride aboard Anthony Nunes’ TIGERAMEDAT at a mile in the second, closing his two-timer astride owner-trainer Oral Hayden’s American, UNRULY MO, in the eighth at five furlongs straight.

Racing continues this afternoon with another nine-race programme, highlight being the Reggae 6 mandatory payout, which opens at $11.79 million in the first race.