Jamaican trainer Jason DaCosta landed his first stakes race of the current USA season on Monday when his gelding Gamboling Ghost scored a surprise win in the US$100,000 Whistle Pig Stakes for 2YOs at Parx Racing track in Pennsylvania.

Ridden by Colombian Jairo Rendon, the 8-1 bet Gamboling Ghost came from off the pace to take command inside the final sixteenth, pulling clear in the end to win by three lengths for owners Calypso Stable.

Gamboling Ghost clocked 1:07.62 in the 5-1/2-furlong sprint for his second win in three lifetime starts. The 17-1 shot Chilling Hassie was second.

DaCosta’s other entry Poker Partner was the 8-5 favourite but he stumbled badly at the start and also suffered interference down the backstretch and placed last in the 10-horse field. Currently the champion and leading trainer in Jamaica, the 38-year-old DaCosta is having a prosperous summer, coming off feature race wins at Caymanas Park three consecutive weeks this month, the Oaks with Mamma Mia, the Reggae Trophy with She’s My Destiny and the Arthur Jones Memorial last weekend with Is That a Fact.

DaCosta has 55 wins so far this year at Caymanas Park and 20 wins in the USA, scoring victories at Thistledown, Presque Isle Downs, Charles Town and Mahoning Valley.

Omar McLeod and Natoya Goule claimed runner-up spots in their respective events as the 2022 Penn Relays came to a conclusion in Pennsylvania, Philadelphia on Saturday.

McLeod, the 2016 Olympic champion, who missed out on a place in the Tokyo Olympics in Japan last year, ran a season-best 13.22 for second place in the Olympic Development Men’s 110m hurdles that was won by the USA’s Devon Allen.

 The American, who ran a world-leading 13.12 in Annapolis a week ago, clocked 13.11 for a commanding victory in what will be his final full season in track and field. Allen, the 2021 Diamond League champion has signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in the National Football League (NFL).

Jaylan McConico was a distant third in 13.70.

In the College Men’s 110m hurdles, Phillip Lemonious claimed victory in 13.48. The Jamaican who attends the University of Arkansas was a comfortable winner over Jaheem Hayes (13.57) of Syracuse and Clemson’s Devon Brooks (13.62)

Goule, a finalist in the 800m at the Tokyo Olympics, ran a fast 1:24.09 in the Olympic Development Women’s 600m Elite event but was no match for the Olympic champion Athing Mu of the United States who was a runaway winner in 1:22.74, the fourth-fastest time ever run over the distance.

Nia Atkins of the USA took the final podium spot in 1:25.14.

Jamaica’s Rajay Hamilton lost out in a close battle with Ghana’s Alex Amankwah in the men’s 600m, clocking 1:16.00 to the Ghanian’s 1:15.88. Kameron Jones was third in 1:16.47.

Holmwood athlete Samantha Pryce suffered a horrible accident in which her leg was broken during the final of the 4x800m relay at the 2022 Penn Relays at Franklyn Field on Friday. As a result, Holmwood Technical was unable to complete the race that was won by Edwin Allen in 8:54.58.

Minister of Gender, Culture, Entertainment and Sports Olivia Grange confirmed that Pryce suffered a broken leg and has been taken to hospital.

“I can confirm that one of our young Jamaican athletes, Samantha Pryce, who represents Holmwood Technical High School, was injured while competing in the 4x800m at the Penn Relays today,” the Minister said.

“She has been taken to the Penn Medical Centre and we have been informed that she broke her leg when she fell in that race. She is currently being prepared for surgery.”

In her statement, Minister Grange explained that Pryce and all the Jamaican high-school athletes competing at the Penn Relays are registered on the Ministry’s Athletes’ Insurance Programme and that they were making arrangements to ensure that the Holmwood athlete gets the best care.

“I pray for a successful surgery and her speedy recovery,” the minister said.

Team Jamaica Bickle (TJB) said it is disappointed but understands the reasons for the cancellation of the 2021 Penn Relays that were set to run off from April 22-24, 2021.