Endorsement, First Moonflash highlight a triumphant racing season Sunland Park presents awards to leading horses

Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino enjoyed yet another successful racing season, seeing an increase in off-track wagering and total handle numbers at a time when many tracks around the nation have seen decreases in all wagering.
At Sunland Park, the year's total handle was $65,568,593 million for the 2009-10 season, an impressive increase of 5.44 percent over the previous year. Also, Sunland's off-track wagering topped out at $58,274,281 million, an increase of 6.34 percent over the 2008-09 season.
A number of factors led to the overall gains. First, the track is still enjoying the effects of Mine That Bird's victory in last year's Kentucky Derby and the increased profile Sunland Park gained as a result of being the horse's home track. In addition, the track also got a boost from the annual Sunland Derby, which this year was graded for the first time. The fact that the Sunland Derby was a Grade III race ensured that its major stakes race featured top horses, top jockeys and top trainers from across the nation.
The racetrack named its top horses in a variety of divisions after Tuesday's final day of the meet.
In thoroughbred awards, Endorsement was named Sunland's 2009-10 horse of the meet. The 3-year old thoroughbred colt, which is owned by WinStar Farm LLC and trained by Shannon Ritter, won the Sunland Derby by 3 lengths as an 11-1 long shot. With Robby Albarado aboard, the son of Distorted Humor upset highly touted Conveyance in a time of 1:48.46.
Endorsement has $430,200 in earnings from four career starts and is tenth in the most updated graded stakes earnings list. He has three victories and one second-place finish in his four starts, making him a 67 percent winner and 100% top-three finisher. On the strength of his win in the Sunland Derby, Endorsement is assured of having enough graded stakes earnings to make the Kentucky Derby field.
Steven M. Asmussen's Grand Slam Andre, winner of the Riley Allison Futurity, was named the top 2-year-old colt/gelding, while Happy Me was named the top New Mexico-bred filly and top older sprinter. Happy Me, owned by Rita J. Danley and trained by Fred I. Danley, won the La Coneja Stakes.
The track's top older distance mare is Bob Baffert's Freedom Star, winner of the Harry W. Henson Handicap. Key's Band was selected as the New Mexico-bred sprinter colt/gelding of the year. He won the Mt. Cristo Rey Handicap for trainer Andres S. Gonzalez.
Harissa was named the 3-year-old filly of the meet. Harissa won the Sunland Park Oaks, while Desert Jack was named the 3-year-old New Mexico-bred distance colt/gelding of the meet. Trained by Joel H. Marr, Desert Jack won the New Mexico Breeders' Derby.
Red Lead, who won the Curribot Stakes, is the top older router of the meet. American Classic and Quiet Again are the co-winners of the track's older sprinter award. American Classic won the Feb. 6th Budweiser Stakes, while Quiet Again won the Bill Thomas Memorial Stakes.
The track's 3-year-old New Mexico-bred filly distance award went to Favorite Flag. Trained by the 2009-10 leading thoroughbred trainer Henry Dominguez, Favorite Flag won the New Mexico Breeders' Oaks with 2009-10 leading thoroughbred jockey Luis Contreras aboard. On the other hand, Cali Baby was named the older New Mexico-bred mare of the meet. Cali Baby won in the Angel Fire Distaff for owners C.P. Hourigan and UKUSA Stables and trainer Eric D. Mikkelson.
In 2009-10 quarter horse awards, First Moonflash was named the quarter horse of the meet with victories in the Jess Burner Memorial Handicap and the $350,000 Grade 1 Championship at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino. First Moonflash retired with 14 victories overall from 25 starts, becoming the first horse to win the Championship at Sunland Park twice in its nine runnings, and earned close to $970,000.
Moreover, Gone to the Mountain was named the distance quarter horse of the meet after a victory in the Red Cell New Mexico Challenge with one of the three 2009-10 leading quarter horse jockey Freddie L. Martinez aboard.
The 2-year-old quarter horse of the meet went to No Dice Special. Owned No Dice Special won the West Texas Futurity as an 18-1 shot. Double Down Special, on the other hand, took home 3-year-old quarter horse of the meet honors by winning the West Texas Derby.
The most improved quarter horse of the meet is In Famous Caper, which won the Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap.
Lastly, Streak of Sixes was named the New Mexico-bred 2-year-old quarter horse of the meet after winning the New Mexican Spring Futurity, while older New Mexico-bred mare honors went to the winner of the Lou Wooten Handicap, Blazin N Shakin.

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