Jimmie, STAR Racing Writer
MINISTEROFJUSTICE should not be opposed in tomorrow's 1000-metre straight fifth race, a restricted stakes for native-bred three-year-olds and imported non-winners-of-two.
The three-year-old colt, who finished second in the Governor's Cup and fourth in the St. Leger earlier this year, showed his versatility on Superstakes Day, placing fourth in the Caribbean Sprint, closing behind the speedsters, AHWHOFAH, OUTSTANDING and WHEEL N DEAL at 1200 metres.
Drawn widest, post-position nine, in an average field of runners, MINISTEROFJUSTICE, with Dane Nelson aboard, should outfinish THE GUARDIAN with Omar Walker, who's next to him in gate eight, setting up a showdown for punters to relish.
However, THE GUARDIAN also competed in the Caribbean Sprint, finishing an even ninth, beaten by seven lengths, two and a quarter behind MINISTEROFJUSTICE.
Hesitate to bank
Both horses also met at 1100 metres, on October 18, and MINISTEROFJUSTICE again got the better of THE GUARDIAN.
It's a good exacta play for Track Price Plus bettors, who shouldn't hesitate to bank MINISTEROFJUSTICE on all Pick-6 Plus bets.
DON'T STAY NAKED's victory among open $180,000 claimers on Wednesday points directly to DIAMOND KING among conditional runners at the level in the 800-metre sixth race for exercise riders.
DIAMOND KING stepped down in class on October 18 and chased DON'T STAY NAKED into the lane at 1300 metres before being relegated to fourth, two and a half-length off the lead at the quarter pole.
DON'T STAY NAKED returned on Wednesday to post a quick double, beating DIESEL at 1000 metres straight, a form line which should be followed.
Up to late August, DIAMOND KING was racing prominently among $200,000 claimers and should make all in tomorrow's quick dash.
Restricted allowance
Another bit of form to follow is the performance of JACKBENIMBLE, who spread-eagled $180,000 conditional claimers last Saturday. He's back in the seventh race, a restricted allowance for older non-winners-of-three, some of whom would struggle in a $180,000 claiming event.
JACKBENIMBLE's manner of victory, untested in a runaway 12-length win, in a decent 1:36.2 with splits of 48.1 and 1:14.0, was no fluke and should result in back-to-back wins for the Lloyd Gordon-trained gelding.
Take Wayne DaCosta's two-year-old, THE GUMMER, in the eighth at 1100 metres after his even third on debut at 600 metres straight. He has looked better training on the round course, six furlongs in 1:15.4 Sunday morning, and should put in an improved run.
Close all bets with down-in-class FUSILIER in the ninth at 1100 metres among $270,000 claimers, and speedy DOLLA WIN will have to be caught in the 10th at 1200 metres.
FUSILIER's fourth-place effort behind RIGGED TO WIN on September 27, even though he threw in a clinker a month later behind SATISFIER at 1500 metres, is good enough to take him home on a $270,000 tag.
In the nightpan, DOLLA WIN gets the perfect inside draw to dictate the fractions, scrape paint into the straight and quicken away from rivals at 1200 metres.