Four international horseracing
events, including the $300,000 Clásico Internacional
del Caribe will take place at El Comandante
Racetrack in Puerto Rico on Dec. 6-7.
The traditional Clásico
Internacional del Caribe celebrates its 36th
anniversary this year with nearly 14 horses from
Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Dominican Republic and
Puerto Rico expected to battle in the prestigious
event. The race generally called "Caribbean Derby"
is for 3-year-olds of the participant countries.
Some of the principal candidates
includes sensational Cafajeste from Panamá,
Venezuela's fast filly Gran Esmeralda, Boby Seraf,
also from Venezuela, hometown hope Despreciado,
Runaway Groom's son Imbuia's Son, Colombian Chan Chu
Yo and the Dominican Republic's Pintoresco.
The other three races in the
series are the $75,000 Copa Velocidad del Caribe
("Caribbean Sprint"), the $75,000 Copa Dama del
Caribe ("Caribbean Distaff") and the $100,000 Copa
Confraternidad del Caribe (for 3 year olds and up).
The Confraternidad features
Venezuela's multiple stakes winner, 6-year-old My
Own Business, who tries to equal Exterminator's
world record for most stakes races won with 34.
All Star Puerto Rican jockey John
Velazquez, will participate in the four races. He
will ride Gran Esmeralda in the Clásico del Caribe,
Gran Abuelo in the Copa Confraternidad, Don Dandy in
the Copa Velocidad and Voluntariosa in the Copa Dama
del Caribe.
The first Caribbean International
Jockey Challenge, which reunites the best jockeys of
the area, will held Dec. 5. Among the participating
jockeys: Cornelio Velázquez and René Douglas from
Panamá; Angel Alcilro Castillo and Emisael Jaramillo
from Venezuela; Joel Rosario from the Dominican
Republic; Luis Perlaza from Colombia; and Juan
Carlos Díaz, Javier Santiago and José Carlos Ferrer
from Puerto Rico. The only female rider, Rosemary
Homeister Jr. from the United States, also competes.
Jockeys will put their abilities
in motion in 4 races with random rides.