Jara wins Clasico Del Caribe for Panama

CANOVANAS, PUERTO RICO -- On Sunday, eighteen-year-old jockey Fernando Jara added to his incredible year by winning the Caribbean's richest race, the $300,000 Clasico del Caribe on Ay Papa for his native Panama.

AP Photo Jockey Fernando Jara after winning aboard Ay Papa in Puerto Rico.

Jara became an international star in November after winning the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic on Invasor at Churchill Downs. Jara also guided Jazil to victory in the Belmont Stakes in June. The 38th Clasico was a celebration of racing for six nations of the confederation that touch the Caribbean Sea -- The Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Venezuela and host Puerto Rico. Two days of racing featured five stakes worth more then $600,000, as well as the fourth annual Angel Cordero, Jr. Jockey Challenge. A estimated crowd of 12,000 enjoyed a festive atmosphere on Sunday that couldn't be dampened despite heavy showers that left the track muddy. Wire To Wire's tenth straight coverage the event will air this Tuesday on ESPN2 at 2 p.m. ET.

Jara, in his first Clasico ride, had Ay Papa in perfect position for the entire mile-and-an-eighth race to prevail by a half-length over Mexico's Dobil Yack, with Puerto Rico's Criador finishing third. The winning time was 1:53.02. The 7-2 second choice in the wagering, Ay Papa returned $9.00 and $4.10.

Owned by Angel Caballero Stud, Ay Papa is trained by Jose Carrillo, a part-time trainer and a full time banker in the Panama Free Zone. Legendary breeder Fernando Eleta added to his series lead having bred seven Clasico winners. Ay Papa is the son of Eleta's late stallion Proud Truth, the 1985 Breeders' Cup Classic winner, who passed away last year in Panama at Eleta's Haras Cerropunta Stud. Proud Truth also sired 2004 Clasico winner Spago. The Eleta family has bred 11 of Panama's 13 Clasico winners.

The full order of finish with country of origin in the Clasico del Caribe was -- 1. Ay Papa (Panama); 2. Dobil Yack (Mexico); 3. Criador (Puerto Rico); 4. Gran Estefania (Venezuela-filly); 5. Papa Lucas (Venezuela); 6. Drago (Panama); 7. Little Pleasure (Puerto Rico); 8. Poderoso (Puerto Rico); 9. Tenochtitlan (Mexico's 5-2 favorite ridden by two-time Eclipse champion jockey, John Velasquez); 10- El Certificado (Puerto Rico); 11-Yabonico (Dominican Republic). Panama's England Charlie was scratched Sunday morning after running a fever.

On Saturday, the Angel Cordero, Jr. Jockey Challenge was dominated by Venezuela's Emisael Jaramillo who won both of his mounts for 24 points. Second was Puerto Rico's Jesus Rios, with Mexico's Luis Contreras third. Jaramillo had only two mounts in the three race series but collected the maximum 12 points on both Saintly Wonder, a 10-1 shot, and Regal Judge at 18-1.

The first Clasico race on Saturday was the six-furlong, Copa Velocidad sprint race. Mexico's Walking Proud, 9-2 second choice, rolled to a 4-1/2 length victory in a quick 1:09.84. Second was Gold Gift and third was Mr. Alvin Peter, both of Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rican race fans were able to celebrate in the next race when odds-on favorite Batalladora won the Copa Dama Del Caribe for 3-year-old fillies. The victory was the fourth straight Copa Dama Del Caribe that the host nation has won. Panama's Allegra was 2-1/2 lengths back in second, with Venezuela's Galactica getting up for third.

The Saturday feature was for older horses, the $100,000 Confraternidad Cup, and was the first victory in the Clasico series for the nation of Jamaica. Miracle Man, at 6-1 odds, won the mile and three-sixteenths race in a full field of 12. Miracle Man defeated Mexico's Yack Lider by 2-1/2 lengths with last year's Clasico Del Caribe winner, Puerto Rico's Borrascoso, finishing third.

"This was a tremendous victory not only for Jamaica, but for our entire confederation," President Lionel Muller said. "Miracle Man was supposed to run in our Clasico here last year but could not clear quarantine. Now, as a four-year-old, he got his chance and made the most of it. It's a real boost for our very good friends in Jamaican racing to have this home-bred win our most important race for older horses here in the Caribbean." Muller added, "The Clasico weekend showed the kind of balance we've been looking for with Panama, Mexico, Jamaica and Puerto Rico all winning Clasico races and Venezuela taking the Jockey Challenge. It was just a perfect weekend of Caribbean racing."