JV Ongpin Cup: Ibarra dominates triple crown’s 2nd leg

Ibarra moved closer to sweeping the 2007 Triple Crown Series with a dominating victory Sunday in the JV Ongpin Cup at the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite. Ibarra responded very well to jockey Antonio Alcasid Jr. in the 1,750-meter race, which the duo dictated right from the opening gate to the finish line. No one in the field of seven gallopers was able to provide any challenge to Ibarra's dominant run, which he finished in one minute and 48 seconds (10'-22'-24'-24'-26). The clocking tied the record of Real Spicy in the same distance. Maribel Ongpin, wife of former finance minister Jaime V. Ongpin, personally handed the trophy to winning horse owner outgoing Mandaluyong Rep. Benhur Abalos, who likewise accepted a check worth P1.8 million. Ibarra, the top choice among the runners, now needs to only win the third leg set on July 22 in the same race track to be one of the few in a club of racers to ever sweep the prestigious series. Silver Story was the last to sweep the race in 2001. Others who have posted the same feat were Fair And Square (1981), Skywalker (1983), Time Master (1987), Magic Showtime (1988), Sun Dancer (1989) Strong Material (1996) at Real Top (1998). Es Twenty Six finished as a distant second placer gained P675,000 for his connections while Golden Sutter at Treasured Ack posted a third and fourth spot finishers worth P375,000 and P150,00, respectively. - GMANews.TV