Hiway One scores breakthru win in Philracom stakes race

MANILA, Philippines - Up-and-coming galloper Hiway One is well on his way to the 2017 Triple Crown trail following his impressive victory against 11 other hopefuls in last week’s Philracom 3YO Local Fillies and Colts Stakes Race at the San Lazaro Leisure Park (SLLP) in Carmona, Cavite.

A co-favorite with stablemate Greatwill in the 1,600-meter contest, the big finishing gray rallied from third spot in the last 400 meters, steadily outdistanced pacesetting Mount Pulag rounding the final bend and gallantly held on to the lead in spite of the late challenge of Metamorphosis and Secret Affair to win by two lengths.

Expertly ridden by jockey Arnold Asuncion, the colt is by Cool Summer Farm-owned stallion Keep Laughing (USA) out of the mare Maria’s Tale (USA), making him a half-brother to recent Philracom 4YO and Up Stakes Race winner Skyway, who is by Bertrando (USA) from the same broodmare.

Ten-year-old Maria’s Tale (USA), who is by Maria’s Mon (USA) out of American Saga (USA) by Tale of the Cat (USA), comes from the same female family that produced two-time Gintong Lahi Broodmare of the Year Lacquaria, dam of current Horse of the Year Low Profile and stakes winners Radio Active and Cat’s Dream.

“We at Cool Summer Farm are extremely elated that two farm-breds from the same mare have won back-to-back stakes races, not to mention the fact that one of our first stallion imports, Keep Laughing, is steadily making a name for himself despite his limited foal crop to date,” said proud owner and breeder Joseph “Joey” Dyhengco.

Buoyed by the recent successes of horses bred and sired by Cool Summer Farm stallions, Dyhengco also announced the upcoming launch of the first Cool Summer Farm Sires’ Produce Stakes, which will have its inaugural run on April 30 at the SLLP. Under the incentive program, all horses sired by Cool Summer Farm stallions, including Hook and Ladder, Keep Laughing, Charge Now, Dance City, Determiner, Eagle Scout, Lydgate and Silver City, will qualify in a featured race with P1-million in guaranteed prize money.

Finishing second to Hiway One was businessman Hermie Esguerra’s Metamorphosis, which rallied from last spot and managed to outrun Tony Tan’s Secret Affair, which finished third, well ahead of Wilbert Tan’s pace-setting Mount Pulag, to complete the top placings.

Trained by veteran conditioner Anthony Francisco, Hiway One was clocked at 1:43.8 for the 1,600-meter journey and bagged the P600,000 guaranteed top prize for his connections, including Joseph Dyhengco, who received an additional P30,000 as the winning breeder.