Big Lagoon reigns supreme

Big Lagoon waited for the perfect moment to attack and bag the richest, most prestigious race in Philippine horseracing calendar when it clinched the P10-million 2022 Philracom-PCSO Presidential Gold Cup over the weekend at the Metro Manila Turf Club in Malvar, Batangas.

With John Alvin Guce at the saddle, the Melaine

Habla-owned Big Lagoon was simply impressive as he outsprinted other serious contenders like Sky Shot, Ambisioso and Silver Cup champion Boss Emong in the crucial stretch of the lung-busting 2,000-meter journey.

Although Super Swerte of Leonardo "Sandy" Javier pulled off a threat, Big Lagoon still warded off the scare en route to winning by 1 ½ lengths to secure the PGC title.

Time of race was 2:04 with clips of 24'-23-25-24-27'.

The win gave Big Lagoon's connections the top prize of P6-million while Super Swerte' had to settle for P2-million for the runner-up effort.

Boss Emong still finished third worth P1 million, Sky Shot mustered enough to grab fourth with P500,000 and Victorious Colt fifth with P300,000.

A sidelight came after the second race of the day where former PGC champion Pangalusian Island bid farewell to the track with a ceremonial gallop befitting a true-blue champion, much to the delight of the thousands of fans who were in attendance and was accorded a thunderous applause.

Incidentally, the PGC day lived up to its billing as one of the top draws in racing as the 13-race card brought in the highest single day sales for the year at P31,642,563 and the week's P89,031,316 in sales is also the highest during the four-day racing schedule.

"Congratulations to the connections of Big Lagoon for winning this year's edition of the Presidential Gold Cup," Philracom chairperson Reli de Leon said.

"But more so, I'd like to thank the racing aficionados who came to the track to show their support for their favorites, and also to those who went to the OTBs."