Six three-year-old runners are set to collide in the 1,600-meter race which carries a total pot money of R3 million sponsored by the Philippine Racing Commission (Philracom).

"We are honored to host this big racing event, the first leg of the Triple Crown Stakes Series as its kicks off today participated in by the country’s top three-year-old gallopers and the Hopeful Stakes Race as the supporting event. I wish to thank the Philracom headed by Chairman Ferdinand A. Rojas II for sponsoring these twin racing spectacle. Also appreciation and gratitude goes to the horse owners who supported this affair by fielding in their best three-year-old runners and to the ‘bayang karerista’’ for their continued support and patronage to the racing program of the SLLP,’’ MJCI chairman and CEO Alfonso R. Reyno Jr. said.

Don Enrico, winner of the R1.2 million 2008 Philracom Chairman’s Cup and the Philracom Aquamarine I and owned by Wi Lee Uy, will have jockey JB Hernandez trying to guide him to a repeat over arch-rival Indelible Ink owned by Hermie Esguerra to be ridden by JT Zarate.

Zarate is expected to exact revenge and do a comeback bid after he was beaten by Hernandez in two face-offs at the same track.

Others vying for the top prize of R1.8 million are Raymund Puyat’s Hieroglyphics (KB Abobo), Esguerra’s Queen Elena (MF Daquis), Antonio Tan Jr’s Shining Fame (JB Guce) and Mario Tan’s Unopposed (JA Guce)

The runner-up will take home R675,000, third placer gets R375,000 and fourth placer takes R150,000. The breeder of the winning horse gets R100,000.

A R500,000 bonus prize awaits the horse that could sweep the three major jewels.

Lending support to this grand event is the 2008 Hopeful Stakes Race where nine entries will fight it out for the top prize of R600,000 in the 1,600-meter distance.

They are Angel Dugo, Anonymous, Arithmetic, Bohemian Dave, Champion of Show, Don Alejandro, Love Story, Luna Rossa and Makisig.