Eileen Cliggott Memorial too close to call

PACK PLAYS returning 17 days after a crazy Mouttet Mile experience could have caused the American speedster to run his worst race in four starts when third behind BOOTYLICIOUS in the Chris Armond Sprint on Christmas Eve.

A three-race winner in the United States, PACK PLAYS is yet to repeat his local-debut performance, taking his place among fellow Mouttet Mile runners - WALL STREET TRADER, ATOMICA and IS THAT A FACT - in Saturday’s Eileen Cliggott Memorial at six and a half furlongs.

An impressive winner when debuting locally last September as a three-year-old, PACK PLAYS clocked 1:17.3 on a stroll at six and a half furlongs, setting tongues wagging ahead of the December 7 Mouttet Mile and its US$250,000 mega purse.

To the shock of punters hedging bets on PACK PLAYS after the speedster finished fourth in the Port Royal Sprint a month earlier, Dick Cardenas losing his stirrup leaving the gate, jockey Kevin Krigger reported at 128lb for the Mouttet Mile.

Allowing DESERT OF MALIBU and LEGACY ISLE weight, PACK PLAYS led what commentator Brian Rickman described as an “American invasion” down the backstretch with eventual winner FUNCAANDUN in tow, tracking in fourth place.

WALL STREET TRADER, ATOMICA, and IS THAT A FACT were all run off their legs by PACK PLAYS, who was still fourth a furlong out with the big weight, eventually finishing sixth, beaten five lengths by FUNCAANDUN, who nailed LEGACY ISLE at the wire.

Returning in the Chris Armond at five and a half furlongs, PACK PLAYS was sent off as second-favourite with DESERT OF MALIBU fancied to rebound from being snatched up in the Mouttet Mile. However, both foreigners were ambushed by speedy local-bred BOOTYLICIOUS, who carried a featherweight 106lb.

PACK PLAYS, though allowing BOOTYLICIOUS 11lb, appeared a shadow of the horse who set cracking splits of 46.4, 59.3 and 1:12.1 in the Mouttet Mile with 128lb, suggesting he might not have recovered from that crazy experience.

Beaten by two and a quarter lengths in third place, PACK PLAYS finished a length and three-quarter behind runner-up DESERT OF MALIBU, noticeably gaining at the end after appearing dull coming off the home turn behind BOOTYLICIOUS.

ATOMICA, a three-time Jamaica Cup winner and 2023 Jamaica Derby winner, has surprisingly returned for another season at age six with the breeding shed beckoning. As usual, she was rank along the rail in the Mouttet Mile when facing superior speed.

Carrying topweight 126lb, the local heroine is not without chance. She ran evenly in the Mouttet Mile and could get an unmolested lead should PACK PLAYS report as underwhelming as he did in the Chris Armond.

If exercise reports are to be followed, IS THAT A FACT, Gold Cup runner-up to stablemate and Mouttet Mile winner FUNCAANDUN, could destroy his four rivals after blazing 1:05.2 for five and a half furlongs last Sunday morning.

The Eileen Cliggott should be approached with as much caution as last Saturday’s feature, the George HoSang Trophy won by “nothing-to-lose” BENSON at odds of 5-1 with lightweight claiming rider Richie Shakes.