Return to dirt propels Sunday Sunrise to win in Veterans

Sunday Sunrise moved back to dirt and got back into the winner’s circle Saturday at Zia Park, when he closed from next to last for a 1 3/4-length win in the $55,000 Veterans . The race was the local prep for next month’s $200,000 Distance Championship.

Sunday Sunrise ($16.80) finished seventh, beaten just two lengths in the $150,000 Remington Park Green on turf in his last start Oct. 10. He returned Saturday to dirt, where he had won an allowance two races back, and closed well to cover 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:44.31.

Imco Spirit finished second in the Veterans, a length clear of third-place finisher Quiet Again.

Ken Tohill rode Sunday Sunrise for the partnership of Mark Wagner and Bob Zollars and Cathy Zollars. Steve Asmussen trains Sunday Sunrise, a 4-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid who has registered three of his four career wins on dirt.