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Wehby connections strike
August 04, 2025
WINNERS sired by the late Don Wehby's stallion, Aveenu Malcainu, opened and closed Saturday's Ketch 9 as if honouring the late senator, horseman and business giant, who passed the previous Saturday, July 26, at the age of 62.
LINGUIST (Aveenu Malcainu-Bilingual) outclassed WOMAN IN LOVE in the 10-furlong Jamaica Oaks, providing Aveenu Malcainu with a futurity winner from his first crop.
Earlier in the afternoon, SALUTE THE DON (Aveenu Malcainu-Abicadabby), won the season's first two-year-old race, the Cradle Stakes, at three furlongs straight for Gary Subratie, evoking a winners' enclosure salute from the trainer who conditioned Wehby's ATOMICA to a 2022 Jamaica Derby victory and two Horse of the Year titles.
The Oaks was won in business-like fashion by LINGUIST, who made a sweeping move from the half-mile marker to go past RILEY J, MIGHTY GULLY and WOMAN IN LOVE within a furlong of her bid.
Runner-up to outstanding BURNING HEDGE in the 1000 Guineas, LINGUIST stayed strong under Panamanian Dick Cardenas to repel 7-2 chance WOMAN IN LOVE, who led past RILEY J and MIGHTY GULLY leaving the half-mile marker.
LINGUIST, the even-money favourite, stayed on strongly to beat WOMAN IN LOVE by a length and a half in 2:13.3, winning the Oaks, which her dam, Bilingual, lost to Marlene My Love in 2017.
The second winner for Anthony Nunes on the 10-race card after DUTCHESS landed the seventh with Roman, LINGUIST kept the three-time champion trainer hot on the stakes-battle trail of leading and champion trainer Jason DaCosta.
Racing continues on Wednesday, Independence Day, with the Jamaica Derby at 12 furlongs, featuring 1000 Guineas heroine BURNING HEDGE tackling St Leger winner I DREAM AGAIN and 2000 Guineas champion SENSATIONAL SOUL.
Saturday's Ketch 9 mandatory payout, $53,677.50, was marked by five outright favourites, including money-back TIGRAY EXPRESS, joint 6-5 favourite ALL TOGETHER and two second-favourites, SALUTE THE DON and DUTCHESS at 7-5 and 8-5, respectively.
