London Spirit wins Derby thriller

STAMINA took its toll on 4-5 favourite WE JAMMIN after 10 furlongs in yesterday’s Jamaica Derby, leaving Carlton Watson’s LONDON SPIRIT to run down stablemate and 82-1 outsider MAVERICK, winning by a nose under a rousing ride from Tevin Foster. The victory handed champion trainer Jason DaCosta back-to-back wins in the 12-furlong classic.

LONDON SPIRIT, third in last month’s 10-furlong Jamaica St Leger after closing 10 lengths on winner WE JAMMIN inside the last furlong, relished the extra distance but nearly lost to rank outsider MAVERICK, Watson’s other starter. MAVERICK made a sweeping move from fourth to chase the favourite off the home turn.

WE JAMMIN, with only one two-turn race under his girth, had outpaced 2000 Guineas winner SALUTE THE DON in the St Leger but surrendered to MAVERICK a furlong and a half out, burnt by having to attack DaCosta’s pacesetter BIGGER BOSS at the three-furlong marker.

Surging clear of WE JAMMIN approaching the final furlong, MAVERICK stunned bettors as it appeared sparingly used jockey Calvin Bailey, winless from 23 rides this season, was on the verge of one of the biggest upsets in Jamaica Derby history.

However, Foster, who had partnered DaCosta’s DREAM CATCHER to an easy Oaks victory last Saturday, swung off the turn in fourth with LONDON SPIRIT and threw everything at the full brother to 2022 St Leger winner BLUE VINYL.

Taking aim at MAVERICK after passing another derby surprise, 50-1 chance I LOVE BIRDIE, who had relegated WE JAMMIN to third a furlong out, Foster roused LONDON SPIRIT in mid-track to charge at his stablemate, winning by the proverbial flair of a nostril at the wire — sealing a derby exacta for Watson and DaCosta.

LONDON SPIRIT’s thrilling win gave Watson his second Jamaica Derby success after KING ARTHUR’s 2020 triumph for 18-time champion trainer Wayne DaCosta, from whom Jason, his son, took over after his death in 2021. Jason has since won four consecutive trainers’ titles (2022–2025), wresting the crown from arch rival Anthony Nunes.

Meanwhile, Dane Dawkins’ first of two Reggae 6 winners, DA QUEEN’S BEE, who took the opening race at odds of 9-2, pushed the Derby Day mandatory payout to $22,785 — the longest shot on a jackpot exceeding $29 million.

Bettors were caught off guard by DA QUEEN’S BEE’s turnaround in form, having finished almost five lengths behind 4-5 favourite DON’T TELL LOU LOU when runner-up to NOBLE SOVEREIGN on June 27.

Coasting easily under Dawkins, the United States-bred filly tracked the pace in the six-furlong Reggae 6 opener, hugged the rail, and hit the front off the home turn to win by seven and a quarter lengths.

Dawkins’ second winner came aboard joint 8-5 chance HE’S SENSATIONAL after American UNBELIEVABLE POWER romped the second at six and a half furlongs as the 1-5 favourite.

Stalking KHALEESI into the stretch, HE’S SENSATIONAL went by inside the last half-furlong despite Richie Shakes’ efforts to drift the leader into his path.

CODE RED handed Nunes the first of three winners, rallying at odds of 2-1 to run down DIVA after the filly had relegated him off the home turn in the six-furlong event for three-year-old maidens.

The Reggae 6 closed with two easy winners — Peter-John Parsard’s American CONFIDENCE IS HIGH, who made virtually all at seven furlongs for a win on his second start, followed by PRINCESS AKILAH running away from rivals to land the sixth at odds of 2-1 against optional $350,000 claimers.

Nunes returned to close the 10-race Derby card with SUPREMASI, who made every post a winning one at odds of 14-1 but had to survive a stewards’ enquiry for hindering 5-2 chance MOJITO a half-mile out in the seven-and-a-half-furlong overnight allowance event.

Racing continues tomorrow with the Reggae 6 starting afresh with its minimum guaranteed payout of $3.5 million.