Really Uptown after his victory in the second leg of the Triple Crown moments ago. Photo:VINO team of reporters

Fans celebrate with Really Uptown and team following their victory. Photo:VINO team of reporters

Really Uptown poses with his team following victory in the second leg of the VI Triple Crown Challenge in St Croix (co-owner Violet 'Letty' Hodge poses with trophy in foreground). Photo:VINO team of reporters

Action in the 2013 VI Triple Crown Challenge moves to St Croix's Randall “Doc” James racetrack on Sunday February 17, 2013. Photo: VINO/File

Really Uptown (second from right) and Good Prospecting (right) are expected to be part of the feature race in the second leg of the VI Triple Crown. Photo:VINO/File

Slevin did not participate in the first leg of the VI Triple Crown due to injury but is expected to be part of the feature race in the second leg in St Croix on Sunday, February 17, 2013. Photo:VINO/File

Letty Hodge (centre) receives the winning trophy flanked by Premier Dr. The Hon. D. Orlando Smith (left) and President of the VI Horseowners' Association Karen Smith-Aaron (right) following the feature race of the first leg of the VI Triple Crown Challenge. Photo:VINO/File

Action from the first leg of the VI Triple Crown Challenge in Tortola on January 13, 2013. Photo:VINO/File

The horse continued its brilliant dominance over both Good Prospecting which came in second place as well as Slevin which finished third in the race today. Unconfirmed reports put the new track record at 1:48s. 

When cotacted co-owner of Really Uptown, Mrs Violet 'Letty' Hodge said it was a victory she was savouring. She said it was an easy victory and felt because she knew the type of horse she had the victory was not surprising. "He's been impressing me every race he does and today was out of this world," Mrs Hodge said. 

She also noted that detractors had said this was the longest race test the horse would face and said he couldn't do it.  "He just blew them out of the field," she added.

The horses competed in the Flamboyant Stakes, the 12th race in a 13-race St. Croix Agricultural Fair Weekend race card for a $13,000 purse.

See previous story posted February 15, 2013:

UPDATE: St. Croix excited about expected huge VI Triple Crown following [2nd Leg Race Card included]

- Preparations almost a go for 2nd leg of VI Triple Crown Challenge 

ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Excitement is reportedly peaking in St. Croix, USVI, as time draws nigh for the highly anticipated 2nd leg of the VI Triple Crown Challenge and also with the news that a huge contingent is expected from the Virgin Islands in support of champion horse Really Uptown and the other horses from Tortola that have made the journey to the island.

And according to General Manager of Traxco, promoters for the upcoming race card, Cherise Williams, “It’s pretty much a done deal in terms of preparations as everything is coming into place, we just have a little painting that we finishing off at the track...”

Ms Williams also told Virgin Islands News Online, in an exclusive interview, that a “humongous” crowd is expected for the races on Sunday, February 17, 2013 at the Randall 'Doc' James  racetrack. She also noted that there is much excitement over reports that a large following from Tortola is expected. This would certainly be no surprise as Virgin Islands horse racing fans would be confident of victory with Really Uptown of the L&B Stables looking simply invincible at this stage.

Really Uptown’s biggest rival is expected to be Slevin and it will be interesting to see how that race plays out over the distance of more than a mile. St. Croix’s large horse race following would no doubt feel Slevin could make a comeback despite a convincing defeat to Really Uptown in December 2012.

Ms Williams also related that there would be lots of entertainment between races including from Stanley and the Ten Sleepless Knights, St. Croix Central High School, Brianna Campbell, who will be singing the VI March and 4-time Road March Champions, Fusion Band, who would be carrying the party in full swing after the races.

Speaking to Virgin Islands News Online from St. Croix, President of the VI Horseowners’ Association, Mrs Karen Smith-Aaron, said the final race card has been released and everything seems a go at this stage. She did note, however, that Twisted Dream is already on the island but that four other horses are yet to arrive from St. Thomas.

Mrs Smith-Aaron also anticipates a keen and competitive day of horse racing that should be made even more exciting with the large number of fans expected from the Virgin Islands.

See previous article posted on February 13, 2013

VI horse owners confident, hopeful ahead of Triple Crown 2nd Leg

- Tortola's Good Prospecting, Blake’s Lucky Penny, Really Uptown, Broken Home and Gaffalione already in St. Croix

Horses have already made the journey to St Croix from Tortola and preparations are rapidly underway as the second leg of the Virgin Islands Triple Crown Challenge is set to kick off on Sunday, February 17, 2013 at the Randall 'Doc' James racetrack.

Three of the big name horses participating in the feature race will be Really Uptown, Good Prospecting and Slevin. The feature race will be a mile and 1/8 distance.

Co-Owner of L&B Stables, Mrs Violet ‘Letty’ Hodge said that everyone is ready and raring to go. She disclosed that winner of the first leg of the Triple Crown, Really Uptown, was also ready to go and bring back the cup.

Given that the horse was fit, training remained consistent and she felt this would pay off at the end of the day.

Hodge said she felt very confident going forward and thought she had a very good chance of capturing the second leg of the Triple Crown as well. She also expressed, however, “every race is a different race and horses run differently at different times so there is always a competition, but it’s how much of a competition you have.”

The horses that have already left Tortola are Good Prospecting, Blake’s Lucky Penny, Really Uptown and Gaffalione.

Owner of Slevin, Mr James Bates, noted that preparation was also going well with his horse and he was hopeful for a good result. Slevin had an injury that forced him out of the first leg of the Triple Crown but he has since recovered well, according to his owner.

Meanwhile, Mr Lesmore Smith, Owner of Top Priority stables and Good Prospecting, another contender in Sunday’s race, also related that preparations were going well.

Regarding his chances of victory in the second leg, he said, “we’re going there hoping for the best… there are always challenges but at the end of the day, as an Owner and trainer you’re hoping for the best.”

He further stated that he still had to remain mindful of the fact that the horses that beat you in the past may beat you again in future since anything is possible but it was important to remain focused in the hope that a victory would emerge.

Though Good Prospecting was fit and in good order, he said, “a minute before the race there is always something that could go wrong.”

Smith congratulated all the participants and expressed hope that everyone remained healthy going into the race. He further expressed hope that it would be a competitive race and added, “may the best man win.”

President of the VI Horseowners’ Association, Mrs Karen Smith-Aaron, revealed that Political Reporter will now replace Twisted Dream in the feature race of the card while Broken Home has now entered the races as well. Twisted Dream has opted to enter a different race on the card for the second leg of the Triple Crown. Sweet Sight and Gato Paso are the other two horses that make up the feature race.

General Manager of Traxco, promoters for the upcoming race card, Cherise Williams, acknowledged that the race card was not yet completed as the final card needed to be taken to the Commission in St Croix for final approval.