Ken and Sarah Ramsey enjoyed a win in the Caribbean March 8 when veteran Major Marvel cruised to a clear victory in the $214,000 Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup at Savannah Garrison Racecourse.
Riding for trainer Mike Maker, Patrick Husbands guided the 8-year-old Bernstein gelding a 3 1/2-length victory in the 1 1/8-mile race that is considered grade I event locally.
Major Marvel tracked pacesetter Areutalkintome from second and took closer order on the far turn before seizing command nearing the quarter pole. From there it was not a question of if he would win, but by how much.
Time for the race was 1:49.40 on firm turf.
Nominee finished second in the 11-horse field, a length a head of third-place finisher Dashing David.
Winner of the Claiming Crown Emerald Stakes in Dec. 7 at Gulfstream Park, Major Marvel came to the Gold Cup off a runner-up finish in a one-mile race on the Gulfstream turf Jan. 2. Maker's hard-knocking gelding has a 23-7-3 record from 54 career starts.
The Ramseys operate Ramsey Farm in Central Kentucky. They recently won their third Eclipse Award as outstanding owner and added their first title as outstanding breeder for the 2013 season.
The Gold Cup win was worth $120,000 and boosted Major Marvel's lifetime bankroll to $818,328.
Bred in Kentucky by Richard Shultz, Major Marvel is out of the winning Royal Academy mare Ms Isadorable.
Husbands, who is based at Woodbine, rode the winners of the card's two other top-level features. He captured the $70,000 Tanglewood Stakes and Trophy for West Indian-breds with Sir Charles Williams' homebred Kendal Moon and the $40,000 Sandy Lane Spa Sprint Stakes and Trophy with Blue Diamond Racing's Vitality.
