Asmussen fillies fill out exacta again in Sunland Park Oaks
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Gun Runner’s daughters have accounted for the exacta in the last two runnings of the $250,000 Sunland Park Oaks, with Runnin N Gunnin taking Sunday’s renewal by 4 3/4 lengths over stablemate Enchanting.
“Nice fillies,” said Steve Asmussen, who trains them both. “They’re getting good with time.”
A year ago, Asmussen won the Sunland Oaks with Recharge. The daughter of Gun Runner was a neck winner over the Todd Fincher-trained Candy Aisle, who is by the same sire.
The Sunland Park Oaks was one of five stakes on a card led by the $400,000 Sunland Park Derby, which was won by the Bob Baffert-trained Getaway Car ($4.40). The five races were worth a total of $930,000, and the first five finishers in the Sunland Oaks earned points for the Kentucky Oaks on a scale of 20-10-6-4-2. Stubby ran third on Sunday, while Pink Pacific was fourth and Rogue Justice was fifth.
Runnin N Gunnin ($13.80) entered off a first-level allowance win at a mile at Sam Houston. She could see the whole field turning down the backside Sunday but soon began to pick off some rivals. Runnin N Gunnin then mounted a four-wide bid around the final turn, took the lead into the stretch, and pulled clear to win the mile-long race run on a fast track in 1:40.09.
Alfredo Juarez Jr. was aboard Runnin N Gunnin, who is a half-sister to Alms, a multiple Grade 3 winner of more than $600,000, and Hallie Belle, a stakes winner of more than $200,000.
“Nice pedigreed filly – a big, tall filly,” Asmussen said Sunday. “Her last two races, she’s definitely a different filly and the potential’s been there. It’s just so good to see her so much faster.”
Asmussen said plans going forward would be discussed with owner Douglas Scharbauer.
Harry Henson
Corrina Corrina, who ranks as the all-time richest New Mexico-bred Thoroughbred, defended her home track Sunday when she defeated open company in the $100,000 Harry Henson.
Moving back to two turns for the race and settled in fourth, Corrina Corrina ($4) began to advance on the final turn and went on to win by by four lengths over Love Tank. The winner covered the mile for fillies and mares in 1:36.94.
“Corrina is the best horse that I have ever had,” trainer Gary Cross, 83, said after the race. “She is incredible.”
Corrina Corrina races for her breeder, Derrick Jenkins. She has now won 19 of 36 career starts for earnings of $1,280,160.
Elsewhere on the card, Mojica ($7,80) led throughout for a three-quarter-length win in the $90,000 Red Hedeman Mile for 3-year-olds bred in New Mexico. Jose Vazquez was aboard for trainer Luis Rojero.
Forty Five ($11) was always prominent in winning the counterpart for fillies, the $90,000 Peppers Pride. Ramon Vazquez was aboard for trainer Dick Cappellucci.
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