Inspire Force steals Millard Ziadie Memorial

RADDESH Roman drove home American INSPIRE FORCE between horses inside the final furlong to yet again deny Tevin Foster aboard MILOS at five and a half furlongs, getting there in time to land yesterday’s Millard Ziadie Memorial by three-quarter length, adding fuel to the fire raging between him and the leading rider.

Though he was forced to take a backseat on Saturday’s 10-race card dominated by champion jockey Reyan Lewis’ four winners, Roman had managed to whittle Foster’s lead to seven atop the standings with a two-timer.

Foster responded early on yesterday’s nine-event programme, erasing Roman’s gains with BLUE SKY at odds of 5-1 in the second event and PRINCESS FIANIE in the seventh for three-year-old maiden fillies.

However, Roman won the rematch between INSPIRE FORCE and local-bred MILOS in the Millard Ziadie, an epic showdown in which both riders were perfect before the better horse prevailed.

Despite extensively warming up sluggish INSPIRE FORCE prior to the start, knowing MILOS had almost slipped his mount at the exact distance on May 25, the American still lumbered out of the gate and was next to last a half-mile out in the 11-horse field.

Meanwhile, Foster, saving every ounce of MILOS, rated the colt seventh, avoiding the battle between GOD OF LOVE and JAGUAR for the lead. GOD OF LOVE and JAGUAR, in turn, were stalked by CHOCOMO and LABAN.

CHOCOMO and LABAN made their bids at the lead coming off the home turn. MILOS improved to get within striking distance while INSPIRE FORCE, being stoked by Roman, turned for home eighth but full of running.

MILOS got first run at the leaders a furlong out, going past CHOCOMO and GOD OF LOVE. However, a wound-up INSPIRE FORCE barged through a half-furlong out with a charging run, almost a replay of his May 25 win when he had beaten MILOS by three lengths.

This time around, MILOS had more in the tank, battling almost to the wire but could not stave off the strong American, who won the overnight allowance event in 1:07.2, taking Roman within six wins of Foster’s lead.

Shane Richardson booted home two winners in the first six races – ANIKA BELLE at 3-1 in the third and 9-2 chance ALWAYS WRIGHT in the fifth - impacting the Reggae 6, which got off to a rowdy start for punters, cringing after being hit with back-to-back upsetters, hard and mild, GALWAY BAY in the opener at 9-1 and BLUE SKY coming home in the second at 5-1.

ROCKET LILY winning the fourth at 5-1 with Shavon Townsend and Paul Francis going all the way with 2-1 chance MONEY MARKET in the second earned a hefty $892,619 for winning tickets, one as low as $1,920.

June’s month of racing closes on Saturday ahead of the three-year-old classic campaign, which continues July 6 with the Jamaica St leger.