African Rose can notch unique Henson victory

Trainer Miguel Hernandez could pull off an unusual racing feat Sunday when he saddles African Rose in the $100,000 Harry Henson Handicap at Sunland Park. The mare is the 123-pound highweight in a one-mile race she has won three times – with one of her victories coming with Hernandez in the saddle.

Hernandez is a retired jockey turned trainer, and he teamed with African Rose to win the 2013 Henson. At the time, Justin Evans trained the mare; Evans also won the Henson with her in 2014 and 2015. Hernandez became African Rose’s trainer in the fall of 2015, when he became a private trainer for her longtime owner, Judge Lanier Racing.

“She’s doing really good, and I hope she can do it, win the same stakes four times,” Hernandez said.

The Harry Henson, which drew 10 fillies and mares, including the Fair Grounds stakes winner Danzatrice, is one of seven stakes on the Sunland Derby card. There are 10 races on the program, all for Thoroughbreds. The stakes are worth $1.5 million, making Sunday’s card the richest of the year at Sunland.

African Rose has been something of a marquee horse for the New Mexico track for years, almost annually defending her home turf against shippers in the Harry Henson. A daughter of Bwana Charlie, she is now 8.

“She likes Sunland Park,” Hernandez said. “She’s run 21 times over here and won 11.”

African Rose enters the Harry Henson off a 1 1/2-length win in the $75,000 El Diario on Feb. 12 at Sunland. The same 6 1/2-furlong stakes served as her springboard to a successful Henson run in 2015.

Miguel Perez has the mount from post 5.

“She likes to be close, likes the front end,” said Hernandez, who as a jockey won the Sunland riding title in 2011-12.

Catsadiva has invaded off an allowance win at Aqueduct on Feb. 16.

“She won going long at Aqueduct last time, and we brought her down to Florida after that because we wanted to try to get some black type for her,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “We knew there was a plane going from Florida to Sunland. We felt like it might be a good opportunity for her.”

Jose Ortiz has the mount from the rail for Robert and Lawana Low.

Sprinters clash in Thomas Memorial

A blend of sharp locals and capable shippers makes for a competitive lineup in the $100,000 Bill Thomas Memorial. The six-furlong race is for 3-year-olds and up. Quijote is looking for his third straight win after back-to-back allowance scores at Fair Grounds, with Javier Castellano to ride for Midwest Thoroughbreds and trainer Tom Amoss.

Redneck Humor owns the best last-race Beyer Speed Figure, a 96, after winning the local prep, the $75,000 Budweiser Handicap, for trainer Justin Evans.