Posted: Sunday, December 07, 2008 7:41 PM
Sicotico storms to Clasico del Caribe victory

by Carlos A. Pena-Rivera

Dominican Republic-based Sicotico won the $300,000 Clasico del Caribe (Caribbean Derby) under Joel Rosario on Sunday at Camarero Race Track.

The three-year-old Blueformer colt rallied gamely in the stretch to prevail by 1 1/2 lengths and improve to 17 wins in 18 career starts. Socotico completed 1 1/8 miles in 1:52:54 on a track rated as muddy.

“This is unbelievable, and I’m so happy right now that I can barely speak,” said an emotional Rosario, who is from the Dominican Republic. “All the connections of this horse are people so dear to me. They all helped me out when I started to ride back home, I mean, I don’t know how to express what I am feeling right now.”

Rosario, who on Saturday won five races at Hollywood Park, has quickly become one of the young stars on the Southern California circuit, where he has enjoyed success this year. He had traveled through the night in order to ride in the race for horses bred in the countries belonging to the Caribbean Horse Racing Confederation.

Sicotico’s win was the first time that the Dominican Republic has won this race.

Defensora, who is based in Puerto Rico and was the Carribean Derby favorite, seized command of the race with three furlongs left and looked like she had the race won, but Sicotico unleashed a furious rally in the final sixteenth to surge clear.

Cristal de Oro, also based in Puerto Rico, edged Defensora by a half-length for second.

Sicotico was bred by Dr. Angel B. Contreras and is out the Lombardi mare Lump of Joy.

Earlier in the afternoon, Venezuela-based South Handyman (Arg) easily won the $50,000 Clasico Copa International (International Cup Stakes) by 6 ¼ lengths.

The four-year-old Southern Halo colt out of Hansa Toss, by Egg Toss, established a new track record for 1 1/4 miles with a final time of 2:01:83.

“This horse came from Argentina and it took a while for him to get back in shape and to get used to his new surroundings,” winning trainer Antonio Catanese said. “He was training great coming into this race and I was expecting a big race out of him, and he didn’t disappoint us.”

Carlos A. Pena-Rivera is a Thoroughbred Times contributing writer