Classy Bootylicious makes it three-in-a-row

PETER-JOHN Parsard’s ridiculed decision to take a four-year-old sprinter, BOOTYLICIOUS, back home from the November 10 Mixed Sale, also turning down a post-sale offer of $3.5 million, has started making sense for the Doubting Thomases.

The Key To Power-Keep the Faith mare, now five, yesterday outsped rivals in the Reggae Month Trophy at five furlongs straight, moving her earnings to $2.57 million -and third consecutive win - since Parsard pushed the auctioneer to $3 million for which there were no takers.

BOOTYLICIOUS, who blinded grade-one Mouttet Mile runners, DESERT OF MALIBU and PACK PLAYS, with speed to land the five-and-a-half furlong Chris Armond Sprint on Christmas Eve - her second win since gracing November’s sales ring - made it three-in-a-row with another gate-to-wire victory.

Breaking sharply from the kiss-of-death rail draw out the straight, BOOTYLICIOUS quickly cleared rivals, angling to mid-track with improved BENSON trying to keep pace.

After making her way to the faster stands’ side, BOOTYLICIOUS only needed reminders inside the final half-furlong to see off Canadian ATLANTIC CONVOY, who closed best of the rest, all struggling behind the speedster’s terrifying half-mile split of 45.3.

Powering to the finish in 58.2 with Ismael Velasquez, BOOTYLICIOUS won at odds of 2-5, pushing her strike rate past 50 per cent with nine career wins from 16 starts.

Shane Ellis opened the nine-race card with consecutive winners at five furlongs straight, seven-year-old American TAURUS BOY beating top-level claimers, followed by three-year-old debutant ANOTHER ONE’s money-back stroll in the Mercury Sprint for colts and geldings.

Eyeing a three-timer aboard 4-5 chance UNCLE HARRY in the sixth at seven furlongs, Ellis was dealt a bad hand as the Bern Identity-Long Running Train debutant left stall one in a tangle, never to recover in the I Love February Trophy won by fellow first-timer MARK MY IDENTITY, who closed rapidly with Dane Dawkins to collar 11-1 outsider COSALIVIN stealing home with Tevin Foster.

Leading rider Robert Halledeen, who combined with champion trainer Jason DaCosta for a three-timer on Saturday, ended the weekend with four winners, using GELROY’s speed to slice through the field of four-year-old maidens in the fourth at five and a half furlongs

GELROY moved Halledeen to 13 wins, five clear of champion jockey Raddesh Roman, who failed to visit the winners’ enclosure after riding a two-timer on Saturday.

Racing continues with a single meet on Saturday.