Tommie Morelos/ Coady Photography

Prospect to the Top wins $160,400 West Texas Derby G3

Sunland Park, NM - April 2, 2011 - Prospect to the Top found his top speed in the final 100 yards to win the $160,400 West Texas Derby (Grade 3) at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino on Saturday.

The winner of the Hobbs America Futurity (Grade 2) was back in top form, and he showed his class in the clutch. Under Jacky Martin, the three-year-old son of Corona Prospect dug and inhaled a spirited bid from the filly Fredona. Prospect to the Top won the highly competitive 400 yard derby by a neck in a time of 19.09 seconds. The winner earned a solid 91 speed index.

Racing as the 2-1 favorite, the bay colt bred in Texas delivered a strong performance and won his 5th race from 9 tries. Prospect to the Top earned a healthy paycheck of $75,388 for winning owner Joel Tavarez. Ralph Muniz trains the two-time stakes winner. Prospect to the Top was one of the top two-year-old Quarter Horses in the country last year. He finished seventh in the All American Futurity (Grade 1) at Ruidoso Downs.

Fredona, a well bred daughter of Corona Cartel, ran the race of her life for trainer Juan M. Gonzalez. The fleet filly broke on top and led in upper stretch with jockey Jaime Parga Leos in the saddle. The 6-1 shot fought valiantly in the final 150 yards but had no answer for the classy winner. Fredona had to settle for second, a head in front of Dm Strait. The runner-up earned $28,872 for the Valle Guadiana Corporation of El Paso, Texas. Fredona qualified for last year’s Ruidoso Quarter Horse Futurity. She only has four career outings.

Dm Strait finished a close third under jockey Martin Bourdieu. Choose wound up a neck back in fourth.

Live racing resumes on Sunday at 12:45 p.m. The $57,950 Red Cell New Mexico Challenge (Grade 3) at 870 yards is the featured 4th race. Distance expert Sheet Burns seeks his 21st career win. Future win and exacta wagering on the Kentucky Derby (pool #3) closes on Sunday afternoon.