The afternoon showcased strong New Mexico-bred performances, with Jet Black Eagles edging the Shue Fly Stakes, Mucho Zmoke asserting his dominance in the Lonnie and Candy Elam Memorial Stakes, and a competitive set of trials producing the qualifiers for the upcoming West Texas Derby.
Source: Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino
Photos Courtesy Coady Media
Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino delivered a stakes-heavy Saturday highlighted by a dramatic upset in the Grade 1 Championship at Sunland Park, where Toastin Heros surged late to top a deep field of elite older quarter horses. The afternoon also showcased strong New Mexico-bred performances, with Jet Black Eagles edging the Shue Fly Stakes, Mucho Zmoke asserting his dominance in the Lonnie and Candy Elam Memorial Stakes, and a competitive set of trials producing the qualifiers for the upcoming West Texas Derby.
Toastin Heros Upsets Deep Field in Grade 1 Championship at Sunland Park
An extraordinary field delivered a fitting finish Saturday at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino, as Toastin Heros rallied late to capture the 24th running of the $350,000 Grade 1 Championship at Sunland Park.
Emerging from a tightly bunched group of sprinters in the final yards, Toastin Heros surged to the front inside the last 40 yards of the 440-yard dash to score the upset victory under jockey Jacob Enriquez. Trained by leading quarter horse conditioner Clinton Crawford for owner H. Gene Cox, the Oklahoma-bred son of Valiant Hero stopped the clock in 21.15 seconds, edging RC Corona King by a head at the wire.
The Championship field was one of the deepest in the race’s history, featuring 12 accomplished older quarter horses whose combined résumés included nearly 90 wins and career earnings approaching $9.5 million. Among them were reigning Champion Shakers No Secret, who finished fourth, and FDD Dreams, the Champion of Champions winner, who checked in third.
Saturday’s win marked the biggest victory yet for Toastin Heros, whose previous top performance came in last fall’s La Fiesta Derby at Albuquerque Downs. The win improved his career record to seven victories from 16 starts, with earnings now exceeding $344,000.
Jet Black Eagles Claims Shue Fly Stakes in Thrilling Finish
Photos Courtesy Coady Media
Just prior to the Championship, Jet Black Eagles delivered a dramatic performance of his own, prevailing by the narrowest of margins in the 53rd running of the $186,490 Shue Fly Stakes, a Grade 2 event restricted to New Mexico-bred 3-year-olds.
Ridden by Christian Ramos, the New Mexico-bred son of Jet Black Patriot surged late to get up in the final strides, denying Pour Me A Drinkk by a nose in the 400-yard contest. Trained by Dominic Duree for owner Michael G. Parker, Jet Black Eagles covered the distance in 19.67 seconds over a fast track.
The victory marked the first stakes win of Jet Black Eagles’ career and served as redemption after finishing second to Pour Me A Drinkk in their shared trial heat in January. With the win, he now owns two victories from nine starts and has pushed his career earnings past $133,000.
Mucho Zmoke Dominates Elam Memorial
Photos Courtesy Coady Media
The first stakes race on Saturday’s card belonged to Mucho Zmoke, who turned in a commanding effort to win the 20th running of the $60,000 Lonnie and Candy Elam Memorial Stakes for New Mexico-bred older horses.
Under a well-timed ride from Francisco Amparan, Mucho Zmoke broke sharply from his outside post and asserted himself early in the 870-yard test. The Wes Giles-trained runner withstood pressure through the stretch before holding off a late challenge to prevail by a neck in 45.72 seconds.
Owned by Curtis Crenwelge, Jim Laird, and Jose R. Espinosa, Mucho Zmoke is a New Mexico-bred son of KJ Mucho Macho Man and remains unbeaten in four starts at the 870-yard distance. Saturday’s win was his first career stakes victory and continued a winning streak that now stands at four straight.
London Bridge Leads West Texas Derby Qualifiers
Photos Courtesy Coady Media
Trials for the West Texas Derby rounded out the day’s stakes-level action, with London Bridge posting the fastest qualifying time of 19.312 seconds to lead the group advancing to the estimated $175,000 final set for February 28.
Joining London Bridge in the Derby field are Faust, Regarding Jess, Litenin, KJ Flashing Candy, Traxion, Ring A Ling Ding, Achylles, Expenssive Boots, and Texas Pharoah, all emerging from a competitive series of trial heats run earlier in the afternoon.
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