Rematch Set For Sunday In Fine Loom at Ruidoso Downs

RUIDOSO DOWNS, New Mexico (May 29, 2011) – A rematch between Hez Our Rock and A Deadly Choice, the top-two finishers in the Red Cell Sunland Park Distance Challenge, sets up in the $30,000 Fine Loom Handicap over 870 yards on Sunday at Ruidoso Downs.

First post time for the 9-race card is 1 p.m. and there is always free parking and free general admission at Ruidoso Downs. The first weekend of the summer season concludes on Monday afternoon with the First Lady Handicap, the first Thoroughbred stakes of the meet.

Hez Our Rock surprised in the Red Cell Sunland Park Distance Challenge with a front-running one-and-one-half length victory at 28-1 odds. The previous time he crossed the finish line first was over a year ago in the 2010 West Texas Maturity.

Esgar Ramirez was aboard for the Red Cell Sunland Park Distance Challenge win and is up again with the inside post position.

While Hez Our Rock is expected to vie for lead on Sunday afternoon, A Deadly Choice also performs well when he is forwardly placed. He won his seasonal debut when he won his Red Cell Sunland Park Distance Challenge trial in gate-to-wire fashion and Hez Our Rock finished third.

Sent off at 7-2 odds in the Red Cell Sunland Park Distance Challenge, A Deadly Choice stalked the pace set by Hez Our Rock and then rallied from third place for the runner-up position.

Trainer J.J. Gonzales Jr. has named veteran Casey Lambert to ride A Deadly Choice when they start from the seventh post position in the full 8-horse field.

The Manuel Urioste-owned, -bred and -trained Lalumbredelospateres is in sharp form with two wins in his two recent starts after returning from an extended layoff. The 7-year-old gelding could benefit from horses vying for the early lead and then tiring in the stretch since he likes to rally from off the pace. He used those tactics to win each of his 2011 starts, allowance races at Sunland Park.

Ricky Ramirez has the mount with the outside post position in the 8-horse field.