Mine That Star shines bright in Sunland Park Handicap
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Mine That Star won the fifth stakes race of his career on Sunday when the half-brother to Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird shuttled to a 3 1/2-length win over Zestful in the $150,000 Sunland Park Handicap.
It was another 4 1/2 lengths back in third to Limonite.
The Sunland Park Handicap, at 1 1/8 miles, closed out the meet in New Mexico.
Mine That Star was moving back to two turns for his second start off a layoff. He tracked the pace set by Limonite, who took the field through fractions of 24.43 seconds for the opening quarter, 48.71 for the half-mile and 1:12.61 for six furlongs. Mine That Star moved to the fore past the quarter pole and pulled clear of his rivals in the stretch, while covering the distance on a fast track in 1:49.50.
Ken Tohill was aboard for trainer Nancy Summers.
Mine That Star paid $5.40 as the favorite. He was the 124-pound co-highweight for the Sunland Park Handicap alongside Zestful.
Mine That Star is a son of Pioneerof the Nile and the mare Mining My Own. Mine That Star has now won 8 of 20 starts for earnings of $424,898. The horse is owned by Judge Lanier Racing.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.