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Saturday’s
$350,000 Championship at Sunland Park (Grade 1) Draws a world class
field with earnings topping $5 million Weekend loaded with six figure stakes races Dec. 27, 2011 - World Champion Quarter Horse honors will be on the line for Saturday’s 11th running of the $350,000 Championship at Sunland Park (Grade 1) at 400 yards. The 10-horse field is loaded with world class runners holding combined career earnings of $5,117,691. Rainbow Derby and Texas Classic Derby winner Cold Cash 123 should rate as one of the favorites in the world class 10th race. The fast finishing son of Oak Tree Special trained by C. Dwayne “Sleepy” Gilbreath has enjoyed a superior year winning five races including two grade one events. A slow start in the All American Derby cost him a third grade one victory. A victory in the Championship at Sunland Park would give Cold Cash 123 an excellent shot at winning the World Champion and Three-Year-Old Quarter Horse titles for 2011. A win on Saturday would push his career bankroll to nearly $1 million. All American Futurity winning rider Roy Baldillez gets the call on the bay gelding. Rylees Boy, winner of the Bank of America New Mexico Regional Challenge Championship at Sunland Park and the Remington Invitational Championship, will be a worthy alternative for favoritism. The horse of course especially loves the Sunland strip having won multiple stakes races locally. The sturdy gelding finished second in last year’s Championship at Sunland Park to Noconi. The $680,000 stakes winner is seeking his 18th career win. Regular pilot Joe Ruiz will ride. Refrigerator Handicap winner Louisiana Senator, Los Alamitos Challenge Championship winner Favorite Cartel, 2010 Texas Classic Futurity winner Bodacious Dash, Zia Park Championship winner Sir Seth, Jess Burner Handicap winner Here Kittykittykitty, Zia Park Championship runner-up Celtic Classic, West Texas Derby winner Prospect to the Top and Turf Paradise Challenge Championship winner Time for a Cigar are also part of the stellar field. Saturday’s star studded card also includes the $110,000 Red Hedeman Mile (9th race) featuring New Mexico-bred two-year-old Thoroughbreds. E Bar Way returns to action fresh off a fast closing win in the $120,000 Eddy County Handicap at Zia Park. Duane Sterling gets the return call on the stretch running expert. That’s Who should attract plenty of attention sporting a stakes winning resume of over $154,000. Eddy County runner-up Zenon’s Star appreciates the one mile distance. Friday’s Sunland Park card features three major stakes races: The $135,615 Sunland Park Winter Quarter Horse Derby (4th race), the $194,262 Sunland Park Winter Quarter Horse Futurity (5th race) and the $100,000-added Riley Allison Futurity (10th race). Zoomandkicken looms large in the Winter Derby. The Trey Wood trainee won his 400 yard trial heat impressively and set the top qualifying time. A Fortunate Choice was the top qualifier in the Winter Futurity. The 49th running of the Riley Allison Futurity at six and one-half furlongs could be one of the strongest in recent years. Trainer Henry Dominguez saddles the ultra quick Isn’t He Clever. After posting two impressive wins at Zia Park, the agile son of Smarty Jones ran a strong second at 10-1 odds in the $100,000 Clever Trevor Stakes at Remington Park last fall. The bay gelding is locally owned by J. Kirk and Judy Robison. Chris Hartman has a very fast runner in Alsvid. The Officer colt served notice at Remington Park winning three of four starts. He is capable of setting of wicked pace. Jockey Ken Tohill rides the front runner. Steve Asmussen ships in Truetap for the Riley Allison. The Tapit colt ran gamely in couple of allowance races at Woodbine. Glen Murphy will ride. Asmussen has won the last three editions of the Riley Allison Futurity. Breeders’ Cup Turf Juvenile finalist Tequila Factor is also part of a deep field. The El Joven Stakes winner at Retama Park will be making his first start over a natural dirt surface. Sunday’s feature race is the $110,000 Albert Dominguez Memorial Handicap at one and one-sixteenth miles. Post time on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday is 12:25 p.m. | ||
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