Holiday Pay holds off the closers in Winsham Lad
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Holiday Pay held off the closing rush of Cornishman to win the $65,000 Winsham Lad by 1 1/4 lengths on Monday at Sunland Park. It was another two lengths back in third to Bender.
The Winsham Lad was a mile race for 4-year-olds and up, and it served as the local stepping-stone to the $200,000 Sunland Park Stakes on April 5.
Holiday Pay ($11.20) tracked the pace set by Spenard, who took the field through fractions of 24.67 seconds for the opening quarter and 47.60 for the half-mile. Holiday Pay moved to the lead through six furlongs in 1:11.63 and continued to deal with a stubborn Spenard and then the closing charges of Cornishman and Bender.
The winner covered the distance on a fast track in 1:36.86.
Luis Valenzuela was aboard Holiday Pay for trainer Justin Evans.
Holiday Pay is a son of Awesome Slew who races for the partnership of Leslie Amestoy, Pierre Amestoy Jr., and Roger K. Beasley.
Marking-sired runners sweep Jamison exacta
Mojica won the $80,000 Jamison Memorial by six lengths over Marking Canyon to give stallion Marking the exacta in the race for 4-year-olds and up bred in New Mexico.
Marking was the leading general sire last year in New Mexico.
Mojica ($2.40) set fractions of 22.43 for the opening quarter and 44.66 for the half-mile before going on to cover 6 1/2 furlongs on a fast track in 1:15.29.
Jose Vazquez was aboard for trainer Filiberto Quiroz.
Mojica, who won the New Mexico Cup Derby in November at Zia Park, races for his breeder, Don Apodaca.
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