One in Vermillion extends stakes streak in Riley Allison Derby

One in Vermillion won his third consecutive stakes race Sunday, when he came back along the rail after being passed for a length victory in the $100,000 Riley Allison Derby at Sunland Park.

How Did He Do That was a fast-closing second, finishing three lengths clear of third-place finisher Loudmouthsoup.

The Riley Allison, which was run at one mile, served as the first of two local steppingstones to the Grade 3, $600,000 Sunland Derby on March 26. It also was one of four stakes on the card, including the $65,000 Borderplex won by Christian d’Oro. The Borderplex is one of two local preps for the $300,000 Sunland Park Oaks.

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One in Vermillion ($9.20) broke well and crossed over to the lead soon after the start of the Riley Allison, while setting pressured fractions of 23.75 seconds for the opening quarter and 46.94 for the half-mile. He continued to lead through six furlongs in 1:11.42, lost his advantage, and came back in the stretch to cover the distance on a fast track in 1:37.17.

Harry Hernandez was aboard for owner Jonathan Kalman and trainer Esteban Martinez.

One in Vermillion is a son of Army Mule. He won the Turf Paradise Open Sprint Futurity and the track’s Lost in the Fog Juvenile before shipping from Arizona to New Mexico for the Riley Allison. He has now won 3 of 4 starts for earnings of $149,620.

Christian d’Oro ($17) was one of four winners on the card for both her trainer, Todd Fincher, and her jockey, Luis Fuentes. She set the pace in the Borderplex as her stablemate, 2-5 favorite Flying Connection, stumbled to her knees out of the gate. Christian d’Oro put up fractions of 23.17 seconds for the opening quarter and 45.41 for the half-mile while under pressure, and had more to cover six and a half furlongs in a sharp 1:15.58.

Christian d’Oro won by a half-length over Foolish Delight, while it was another two and three-quarter lengths back in third to stakes winner Flying Connection.

Christian d’Oro is a daughter of Bolt d’Oro who was coming off a more-than-six-length maiden special weight win at Zia Park. She races for Chris Coleman and is 2 for 3 for earnings of $66,300.

* Fincher and Fuentes teamed for a second stakes win on the card, when Cheese Tray ($6.60) edged Thunder Dome by a nose in the $100,000 Jamison Memorial. J. Kirk and Judy Robison bred and own Cheese Tray, who is by Attila’s Storm.

* The Robisons also bred Competitive Idea ($7.80), who won the $75,000 Ft. Bliss for owners Luxury Group Racing and Mike Luciano. Fuentes was aboard in what was one of three stakes wins he had on the card. Competitive Idea won the six furlong race in 1:09.30. The son of Competitive Edge is trained by Dick Cappellucci.

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