san juan, puerto rico (cmc):

Jamaica's champion three-year-old horse, Alsafra, showed good early pace but faded to finish eighth in the rich Caribbean Classic Run at the Camarero racetrack on Sunday.

Ridden by US-based Jamaican Andrew Ramgeet, Alsafra led for more than half of the nine-furlong event as a 9-to-1 bet in the 13-horse field but weakened to finish about 14 lengths behind the winner.

The US$300,000 event was won by the bay colt Sicotico, giving the Dominican Republic their first ever win in the event for horses bred in the countries affiliated to the Caribbean Horse Racing Confederation.

Jockey Joel Rosario was astride for the win in one minute 52.54 seconds.

"This is unbelievable and I'm so happy right now that I can barely speak," Rosario told reporters after the race.

Alsafra, the 2008 Jamaica triple crown champion after winning the Derby, the Guineas and the St Leger under Trinidadian jockey Brian Harding, was ridden by Ramgeet for the first time.

He moved to lead from the start, stalked by the 38-1 outsider Tio Juan from Puerto Rico and other local entries Traqueteo (12-1) and Defensora, the race favourite at 3-2.

Alsafra still led at the far turn, but Defensora rushed past him to take command with three furlongs left.

Defensora ran stoutly in the upper-stretch and was still running well inside the last furlong. But California-based Rosario roused Sicotico for a furious rally in the last 50 metres to win by 1-1/2 lengths at odds of 4-1.

Another Puerto Rican entry Cristal de Oro (10-1), also finished rapidly to snatch second spot. Defensora placed third, another half-length behind and the Mexican entry Antares was fourth.

Alsafra was trying to become the second Jamaican horse in two years to score a big win on the Caribbean Classic weekend here.

In December 2006, Miracle Man became the first horse from the English-speaking Caribbean to win the prestigious Confraternity Classic.

Ridden by Florida-based Panamanian jockey Cecilio Penalba, Miracle Man produced a strong finish to capture the US$100,000 Confraternity event over 1-3/16th miles in one minute 59.50 seconds.