The Barbados Turf Club said Ken and Sarah Ramsey's multiple stakes winner Major Marvel has been added to the list of nominees for the 33rd renewal of the Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup.
The Bds$120,000 (about $59,500 in U.S. funds) race at 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles) on turf will be contested March 8 at Garrison Savannah in St. Michael, Barbados.
An 8-year-old son of Bernstein bred in Kentucky by Richard Schultz, Major Marvel has won 22 of 53 career starts with 10 placings and earnings of $698,328. Trained by Mike Maker for the Ramseys since May 1, 2012, Major Marvel won the West Virginia House of Delegates Speaker's Cup Stakes at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort, the Unbridled Stakes at Louisiana Downs, and the 2013 Claiming Crown Emerald Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
Also among the 13 nominees to the Gold Cup is Nominee, a 5-year-old son of Awesome Again bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings. Owned by Antonio Navarro, Nominee won the Champagne Stakes (Tri-I) at Santa Rosa Park in Trinidad last year.
Rosette Peirce, chief executive officer of the Barbados Turf Club, in a release said the field for this year's Gold Cup includes 2013 Trinidad Horse of the Year Bigman in Town and is the most competitive to contest the race during her tenure.