Wind Blown wins unopposed

Wind Blown gave his followers another big reason to celebrate yesterday after the four-year-old racing sensation convincingly ruled the First Gentleman’s Cup before a highly-appreciative crowd at the Sta. Ana Park.

President Arroyo and First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, along with their eldest son and Pampanga Vice Gov. Mikey, were among those who watched Wind Blown win the grueling 2,050-meter race and the whopping P1.1 million top purse.

It was the second big win for Wind Blown this year following his victory in the Regally Open last Feb. 3 at the San Lazaro Hippodrome. It was also the second time that the First Couple came to watch Wind Blown in action after the Presidential Gold Cup last December.

"Congratulations to the winners," the President told the crowd during the awarding ceremony where she was joined by her husband, Wind Blown owner Hermie Esguerra, winning trainer Dr. Antonio Alcasid, Sr. and winning jockey Fernando "Budoy" Racquel, Jr.

Wind Blown, who increased his career earnings to more than P13 million with the victory, pulled his punches in the early goings, took the lead from Lyonnais passing through the judges stand and started to pull away entering the far turn.

Lyonnais, however, made a big run at Wind Blown down the stretch but simply failed to go all the way as Racquel, who steered Wind Blown to victory in the same race last year, masterfully guided his charger to a two-length triumph.

For finishing second, Lyonnais took home P350,000. Batangas Entry, the second favorite, came in third for P175,000 followed by Staunch Ally for P85,000. Wind Blown had a winning time of 2:13.4 (29-23'-27-25-29). — With reports from R. Romualdez