Tortola’s Really Uptown stunned a large Sunday crowd with a record breaking performance in the 11th race of the Turkey Ball Stakes at the Randall “Doc” James racetrack. With Jockey Alberto Soto aboard, Really Uptown stopped the clock in 1:29 flat to better the old track record set by Slevin on Nov. 6, 2011, by 1/5 of a second.

Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux, winner of more than 5,000 races that included three Kentucky Derbies, two Preaknesses and a Belmont Stakes, was flown in to ride Slevin. But as great a rider as Desormeaux is, his lack of experience on the local track showed in the pace that he allowed Really Uptown to dictate in the race.

At the break the speedy BVI entry darted to the early lead, as expected, followed by Slevin and an outclassed Burn the Harp. As the field turned up the backstretch, a murmur could be heard from the crowd in the stands when the times for the first quarter, 23.79, and the half, 47.14, flashed on the infield tote board.

For fans in the know, the race was setting up just about perfect for the sprinter, Really Uptown, as he was allowed to set slow early fractions which mean he would have a lot left in the tank on the turn for home. Slevin made his move as they approached the 3/8 marker and was gaining rapidly as they ran around the far turn.

Burn the Harp was far back and out of the race at that point, but at the top of the stretch, Really Uptown and Slevin were dead even; Slevin even appeared to put a head in front at mid-stretch. But Really Uptown, as a result of the slow early fractions, was not done yet, and he was able fight back to win by a head at the wire to the disbelief a stunned local crowd.

In the second leg of the native triple crown, jockey Sasha Ortiz kept Hanna Boss way off the pace in the 1-1/16 miles ninth race, before mowing them down late to win in a time of 1:49.4. With the favorite and winner of the first leg, Master Deposit, scratched from the race, it was Hanna Boss’s race to lose and she did not disappoint her fans. She won going away by some seven lengths at the wire in a hand ride. Cruzan Emerald got up for second and Yahboribos Weapon took third.

The rest of the day’s results:
Race 1 5F Classes N-6, Jockey
Time: 1:02.4
1. Gold Demarshe, B. Gonzalez
2. Dehroadismine, S. Diaz
3. Crystal Blessing, W. Hurst

Race 2 6F Class I-5(M/F) & I-6, Jockey
Time: 1:11.4
1. Win All, S. Ortiz
2. Clutch, S. Husband
3. Quilla, A. Hernandez

Race 3 7 ½ F I-4, (M/F), Jockey
Time: 1:32.1
1. Rasta Queen, W. Hurst
2. Syrophoenician, J. Hernandez
3. Apron Dance, E. Barnes

Race 4 7 ½ F I-4, (C/G), Jockey
Time: 1:31.3
1. A Bit of Madness, B. Gonzalez
2. Blast of Macho, M. Sanchez
3. I Confess, S. Ortiz

Race 5 1 M Class I-4, Jockey
Time: 1:38.0
1. Simon Sez Run, A. Hernandez
2. Turn to win, A. Claudio
3. Going Blue, S. Powell

Race 6 6 F Open Race, Jockey
Time: 1:10.4
1. Gato Paso, J. Hernandez
2. Costly Approval, S. Husband
3. Remarkable Storm, E. Barnes

Race 7 1M Class I-3 & I-4, Jockey
Time: 1:36.4
1. According to Jesus, J. Hernandez
2. Plotter, S. Diaz
3. Luciano’s Roses, C. Reyes

Race 8 7-1/2 F Class I-1&I-2, Jockey
Time: 1:30.2
1. Diablo’s Fire (STT), S. Husband
2. Puerto Rican Emblem, S. Ortiz
3. Big D, S. Diaz

Race 10 1 M Open Race, (M/F) Jockey
Time: 1:37.3
1. Lea the Punisher, A. Hernandez
2. Turned to Gold
3. Leggy Blonde, S. Ortiz

Race 12 7 F N-4 & N-5 VI Bred, Jockey
Time: 1:28.3
1. Fast Return, J. Hernandez
2. Midnight Indictment, A. Claudio
3. Miss Kosi, J. Guadalupe