Blazing Navarone wins Albert Dominguez Handicap
Blazing Navarone fought for a head win over Hute on Sunday to give his connections an emotional victory in the $85,000 Albert Dominguez Memorial Handicap at Sunland Park.
It was another 2 1/4 lengths back to Shining Source in third.
Henry Dominguez, brother of the late Albert Dominguez, co-owns and trains Blazing Navarone. Albert Dominguez was a trainer turned racing official. The men are from a family of seven children.
The Dominguez was a 1 1/6-mile race for older horses bred in New Mexico.
Blazing Navarone ($15) set fractions of 24.03 seconds for the opening quarter, 48.34 seconds for the half-mile, and was joined by Hute through six furlongs in 1:12.27. The eventual winner held off Hute in the stretch while covering the distance on a fast track in 1:43.71.
Ry Eikleberry was aboard for Henry Dominguez, who co-owns Blazing Navarone with George E. Coleman.
Blazing Navarone was winning the fifth stakes race of his career. He also improved his Sunland record to 5 for 6. Blazing Navarone is a son of Song of Navarone, a multiple stakes winner trained by Henry Dominguez and raced by Coleman.
Thunder Dome, the 4-5 favorite, finished fifth Sunday.
