 Tommie
Morelos/ Coady Photography
Quiet Again edges out Red Lead to win $50,000
Winsham Lad Stakes
Sunland Park, NM - Jan. 8, 2012 - Quiet Again re-rallied in deep
stretch to overhaul Red Lead in a thrilling $50,000 Winsham Lad
Stakes at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino on Sunday.
After looking beaten with a quarter mile to go, Quiet Again pinned
his ears back and generated a terrific stretch drive to defeat the
heavily favored Red Lead by a head in the one mile and 70 yard test.
The hard charging Quiet Again was coming off a stellar 2011 campaign
with four stakes wins over three racetracks. The 2011 Curribot
Stakes winner repeated a similar effort when he defeated Red Lead.
Quiet Again raced as a 5-1 shot with jockey Duane Sterling in the
irons. The dark bay gelding by Real Quiet delivered a command
performance and simply refused to lose. The winner battled back
bravely to take his 16th career win. He caught the distance in a
fast 1:40.88, just missing the track record of 1:39.83.
The 2012 Winsham Lad champion had won two of his last three races
including victories in the Budweiser Special and New Mexico State
Fair Handicaps at the Downs at Albuquerque. He earned a $30,000 pay
check for owner-breeder Paul Bruce Thomason. Under the direction of
trainer Jimmie Claridge, Quiet Again has earned over $572,000. He is
arguably the most consistent stakes horse in New Mexico for the last
four years.
Under jockey Ry Eikleberry, Red Lead made a commanding move around
the far turn and looked unstoppable. The 4-5 favorite continued to
lead until mid-stretch and then suddenly showed signs of
vulnerability. The Red Bullet gelding tried to find more in deep
stretch but could not fend off the winner. Chris Hartman trains the
runner-up
Vamoose closed with energy along the rail to finish good third under
jockey Enrique Portillo Gomez. The Petionville gelding was rolling
late and was beaten less than one length. Behold de Buy finished 9
lengths back in fourth place followed by Happy Toes.
Live racing resumes on Tuesday at 12:25 p.m.
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