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 Coady Photography/story by Michael Cusortelli
E Bar Way Rallies to Win New
Mexico Eddy County Stakes
Hobbs, NM December 4, 2011 - E Bar Way unleashed a strong stretch
rally under jockey Duane Sterling to win the $129,860 New Mexico
Eddy County Stakes (R) for state-bred 2-year-olds at Zia Park on
Sunday.
Trained by Jimmie Claridge for owner Donnell Echols, E Bar Way went
one mile in 1:40.06, and his winning margin was a half of a length
from Zenon's Star. That's Who, the 11-10 favorite, finished third,
three-quarters of a length behind the winner.
A chestnut gelding, E Bar Way became the second stakes winner sired
by
The Way Home, an unraced 7-year-old son of the Storm Cat
stallion Giant's Causeway whose nine starters have earned more than
$306,000 and include My Homey, the winner of this year's Totah
Stakes (R) at SunRay Park and Mountain Top Thoroughbred Futurity (R)
at Ruidoso Downs.
The Way Home is owned by a partnership. He stands for a $2,500 fee
at Steve Prather's
Doubletree Farm at Hobbs, New Mexico.
E Bar Way is also one of three winners from four starters foaled by
E Bar Prospect, a 12-year-old mare by the Forty Niner stallion Gold
Fever. The gelding's second dam, the Be My Guest mare Lady Lodger
(GB), earned $313,892 from 26 starts from 1993-97, and her eight
wins included the 1996 Miss America Handicap (G3) at Golden Gate
Fields, and two stakes later that season at Arlington Park.
E Bar Way has won two of five races, and the $77,700 winner's share
of the Eddy County Stakes purse pushed his bankroll to $99,856. He
was coming off of a fifth-place finish the October 30, $151,600 New
Mexico Cup Juvenile Colts & Geldings Stakes (R) at Zia.
A 10-1 longshot, E Bar Way returned a $22.60 win mutuel and teamed
with Zenon's Star for a $457 ($2) exacta. That's Who completed a
$1,498.30 ($1) trifecta.
Crusher Lane finished fourth and was followed by Honshu City, Vote
Often, Sapello Larue, T.V. Stevie, and Mr. Wizard.
Runner-up Zenon's Star was a $3,200 buy at last year's New
Mexico-Bred Yearling Sale at Ruidoso Downs, and the gray or roan
gelding by Fusaichi Zenon (JPN) has won two of eight races and has
earned $58,830 for his owner, Lester Wright.
That's Who was just five weeks removed from a 1 1/2-length victory
in the 6-furlong New Mexico Cup Juvenile Colts & Geldings Stakes
(R). The homebred
Quinton's Gold gelding has won three of six outs and has banked
$154,770 for owners Sam E. and Latane Stevens of La Mesa, Texas.
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