The Jamaica Star :: Sport :: Bank on Gamboa

Jimmie, Star Racing Writer

WEDNESDAY's Pick-9 was no walk in the park, opening with 6-1 shot DIAMOND EXPRESS before the day's shocker, QUEEN ELIZA at 56-1, struck in the eighth at 1200 metres.

Surviving bets were wiped out by VENOM at 8-1 in the ninth, resulting in a decent eight of nine payout of $150,614 with tomorrow's Pick-9 again starting at the third with a $1 million guarantee.

However, the Super-6 was unbelievably nailed by one extremely good punter, who pocketed $1.3 milliontips

after EXPLOSIVE PEAK fought off CRUCIAL POINT to win the 10th.

Had CRUCIAL POINT won at 3-1, the Super-6 would have had a carryover to tomorrow's card, starting at the fifth event but is back at its $500,000 guaranteed payout.

Shane Ellis looks to be aboard a three-timer including a pair of Super-6 and Pick-9 bankers, EARTHWINDANDFIRE in the ninth at 1700 metres and MUCHO GUSTO in the 1300-metre 10th race for the Frankie Frazier Memorial Cup.

Apart from GAMBOA in the second, Ellis' other fancied mounts, EARTHWINDANDFIRE and MUCHO GUSTO, race in the silks of leading owner, Barbadian Elias Haloute.

GAMBOA, owned and trained by Richard Azan, is back at 1820 metres after being outstayed by LEONIDAS and MINISTEROFJUSTICE on April 19. Azan has since taken his runner to task at exercise, drilling him twice at 1400 metres and must have been pleased with his last gallop, 1:28.0 Wednesday morning.

Super-6 and Pick-9 bettors should bank EARTHWINDANDFIRE in the ninth.

Talented runner

Although not raced in three months, EARTHWINDANDFIRE's last run, five and a quarter-length fourth behind SMOOTHDUDE at 1500 metres, allowing the talented runner 10 pounds, was a big effort from trainer Robert Taylor's runner in January.

He has trained well for his return and by virtue of being inactive for four months, faces a weak field of non-winners-of-two, nowhere near as saucy as the trio of SMOOTHDUDE, LADY RAKWALAY and REX TIPOU, who finished ahead of him last time out.

Ellis should enjoy himself aboard Anthony Nunes' MUCHO GUSTO, who is also reporting off a four-month lay-up but catching birds at exercise in the mornings.

After placing in four classics last season, beaten by either RUM TALK or THE BOMBER, MUCHO GUSTO took a six-month break and returned in January, albeit a bit rusty, to beat TAKE FIVE, clocking 1:18.2 at tomorrow's distance.

Stepped up in class among Overnight Allowance runners, MUCHO GUSTO is expected to follow make his way up to Open Allowance, following in the footsteps of THE BOMBER and RUM TALK.

Looking quite flashy at exercise last Monday morning, MUCHO GUSTO clocked 1:06.2 for a five and a half-furlong gallop, stopping watches in 1:00.0 for the last five. Dwight Chen's PRINCE TERRON won well last time out, posting 1:32.1 for 1500 metres. However, he does not pack MUCHO GUSTO's pace and won't be able to catch his rival in the stretch run.

Punters often fear going for bankers in feature races, unnecessarily using up valuable options better suited to tougher events. Make no such mistake in the day's remaining features, the divided Master Blaster Trophy at 1000 metres straight and the Dr. David 'Jack' Radix Memorial for $180,000 claimers at 1820 metres.

RIO INFINITO and THE BEST MAN, who cancelled each other's chances on the lead at 1200 metres last time out, will have to be caught in their respective divisions of the Master Blaster while RED GENERAL should not be opposed in the Dr David 'Jack' Radix Memorial.