Go for a Stroll prevails in photo finish in New Mexico Breeders' Derby
Go for a Stroll, narrowly beaten as the even-money favorite by Storming Back in the local prep three weeks ago, this time was in the right spot in a photo finish with that same rival in Sunday’s $100,000 New Mexico Breeders’ Derby at Sunland Park.
The 1 1/16-mile race for statebred 3-year-olds was the last of three restricted stakes on a seven-stakes card highlighted by the $800,000 Sunland Derby.
Go for a Stroll, winless in three starts at Sunland since January, was next-to-last in the 12-horse field going into the first turn and was still 11th after the longshot recent maiden winner Tiza Roll opened up by five lengths through a half-mile in 46.56 seconds. Storming Back, last of 12 after a quarter-mile and seventh through the first half-mile, moved to the front by a head after six furlongs in 1:12.74 as the pack swallowed up the tiring pacesetter.
Storming Back, under Alfredo Juarez Jr., led by 1 1/2 lengths at the eighth pole, but Go for a Stroll, who came six wide turning for home to get into contention, rallied under Tracy Hebert to get past Storming Back by a neck at the wire. He’s Another Who was third, 4 1/4 lengths behind the runner-up and a neck in front of 3-1 second choice Hute, as the 8-5 favorite. The winning time was 1:44.78.
A son of Attila’s Storm trained by Todd Fincher for owner-breeder R.D. Hubbard, Go for a Stroll was fourth in the Red Hedeman Mile in his first start going two turns in early February. He rallied from seventh to miss by a head to Storming Back in a one-mile prep on March 7. Go for a Stroll is now 2 for 5 with earnings of $104,418.
Pink Cadillac edges Sippin in New Mexico Breeders’ Oaks
Pink Cadillac, beaten by the razor-sharp Sippin four times in the first eight starts of her career, finally turned the tables on her nemesis in the $100,000 New Mexico Breeders’ Oaks.
The closest Pink Cadillac had previously come to Sippin, the 2-5 favorite Sunday on the basis of her seven wins in eight starts, was 2 1/2 lengths on the one-mile Enchantress in January.
Making her first start since then, Pink Cadillac ($17.40) managed to score the upset despite racing five wide into the first turn and having to go four wide turning into the stretch. Jockey Ken Tohill got Pink Cadillac to respond to left-handed urging and she defeated Sippin by a neck after 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.73. It was another 3 1/2 lengths back to 13-1 second-time starter McAway.
A daughter of Diabolical trained by Joel Marr for J. Kirk and Judy Robison, Pink Cadillac is now 2 for 9 with earnings of $115,200.
Woodacouladid fires off long layoff in La Coneja
The 6-year-old mare Woodacouldadid, idle since finishing fifth in this same stakes a year ago, held off 8-5 favorite Diabolical Dame by a half-length in the $100,000 La Coneja Stakes for New Mexico-bred fillies and mares.
Third early behind dueling pacesetters Bloss and Tijuana, Woodacouldadid ($70.80) and jockey Elvin Gonzalez put a head in front of the tiring Tijuana at the stretch call and barely withstood a charge by Diabolical Dame, completing 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:03.65. Diabolical Dame’s uncoupled stablemate, Bryan’s Fancy Pants, finished third at 8-5, 1 1/4 lengths behind the runner-up.
A daughter of Minister Eric trained by J.R. Gonzalez Jr. for owner Terrine Ransler, Woodacouldadid is now 7 for 22 with earnings of $179,218.