St. Thomas’ Twisted Dream proved to be a nightmare for other horses in “The Dennis Brow Farewell Christmas Classic” when he exploded in the home stretch to win by four lengths in the 10th race on Wednesday at the Randall “Doc” James racetrack.
The fairly large crowd was somewhat disappointed when they learned of the scratching of pre-race favorite and St. Croix champ, Slevin, from the race. They anticipated, and rightly so, that Diablo’s Fire would now take on the role of favorite having beaten Slevin in the past.
Twisted Dream, however, would care less about status. He came across the pond to run and did he ever. With jockey Miguel Sanchez in the irons, Twisted Dream sat just off of a fast pace set by Puerto Rican Emblem before pouncing at the top of the stretch, blowing by a game but overmatched latter down the stretch to win at the wire in a not-too-shabby time of 1:43.1 for the 1-1/16 miles distance.
Puerto Rican Emblem held on for second and Mr. Unitas closed for third. Pre-race favorite, Diablo’s Fire, was all smoke on Wednesday as he never got going and finished, shockingly, dead last.
In the third leg of the native Triple Crown, “The Hovensa Cup,” Fast Return dominated the field to win by four lengths. With the winners of the first two legs, Master Deposit and Hanna Boss, sidelined, Fast Return and jockey Juan Hernandez had things their way from the start going wire to wire in the 1-1/8 miles eighth race in a time of 1:57.4. Cruzan Emerald closed for second and Gold Demarshe held on for third.
The rest of the day’s results:
Race1 5 F Classes N-6, Jockey
Time: 1:02
1. Crystal Blessing, W. Hurst
2. Miss Evadney’s Pride, E. Barnes
3. Delilah, S. Powell
Race2 7F Class I-5(M/F) & I-6, Jockey
Time: 1:25
1. Australis Forever, J. Guadelupe
2. Clutch, M. Rivera
3. Lost Explorer, J. Hernandez
Race3 1 M I-5, (C/G), Jockey
Time: 1:37.4
1. Joyful Minister, W. Gotay
2. Blast of Macho, M. Sanchez
3. San Viron, S. Husband
Race4 1 M Class I-4, Jockey
Time: 1:38.0
1. Simon Sez Run, A. Hernandez
2. Drink at Last Call, J. Guadelupe
3. A Bit of Madness, B. Gonzalez
Race5 1 M Open Race VI Bred, Jockey
Time: 1:42.1
1. Joe Boss, B. Gonzalez
2. Creation Rebel, J. Hernandez
3. Midnight Indictment, A. Claudio
Race6 1M Class I-3, Jockey
Time: 1:38
1. Plotter, W. Gotay
2. According to Jesus, J. Hernandez
3. Beantown, E. Barnes
Race7 6 F Open Race, Jockey
Time: 1:11.2
2. Winning Actor, W. Hurst
1. Gato Paso, J. Hernandez
3. Bambi Bound, A. Hernandez
Race9 1-1/8 M Open Race, (M/F) Jockey
Time: 1:50.2
1. Turned to Gold, M. Sanchez
2. Lea the Punisher, A. Hernandez
3. Ohbabyobeyme, S. husband
Race11 1-1/16 M I-4, (M/F), Jockey
Time: 1:32.1
1. Apron Dance, E. Barnes
2. Don Gongui, W. Gotay
3. Estrella Del Dia, M. Rivera