Ghost Chatter rolling for Dominguez barn
SUNLAND PARK, N.M. - Ghost Chatter puts her four-race winning streak on the line Sunday at Sunland Park against 11 other statebred fillies and mares in the $125,000-added New Mexico Racing Commission Handicap.
Despite being one of three 3-year-olds in the race, she has been assigned co-highweight of 122 pounds in the six-furlong race.
When Ghost Chatter arrived in Henry Dominguez's barn this spring at Ruidoso, she was a nondescript filly with 10 career starts and only a maiden win. Ghost Chatter began her win streak in her first race for Dominguez on June 12 in a nonwinners-of-two allowance race. Barely a month later she earned black type. Her most recent win came against older foes in the $65,000 New Mexico Distaff at Sun Ray Park on Sept. 20.
"I can't say that I did anything special with Ghost Chatter to turn her around," Dominguez said Friday. "I really believe I got her just at the time she was coming into herself."
Like many of the entrants in the Racing Commission Handicap, Ghost Chatter has been pointing for this race for some time. She worked a half-mile in 47.40 seconds here Nov. 23. Sal Gonzalez will ride her for the first time.
Dancing Capote will also carry 122 in the NMRC Handicap. Trained by Todd Fincher, Dancing Capote has 3 wins and 3 seconds in 6 starts this year. Unraced since finishing second in the Lincoln Handicap on July 13 at Ruidoso, Dancing Capote has put together a series of solid workouts here. Regular rider Ricardo Jaime will be in the saddle.
Fincher will also send out Miss Trixie as part of an uncoupled entry. A lightly raced 3-year-old, Miss Trixie last saw action Sept. 20 in Albuquerque's $33,000 Fair Queen Handicap, finishing second. Wade Rini, a newcomer to the Southwest, will ride at 118.
Lord Imajones gets in at 121. She has faced the top pair in each of their last races. Lord Imajones was beaten a half-length by Ghost Chatter in the Sept. 20 race at Sun Ray and beat Dancing Capote by a neck July 13 at Ruidoso. Martin Bourdieu, last year's Sunland riding champion, rides Lord Imajones.