Streakin Sin Tacha heads deep field

Streakin Sin Tacha, the eighth-place finisher in the Grade 1, $500,000 Champion of Champions on Dec. 14, will try to rebound Saturday in the Grade 1, $350,000 The Championship at Sunland Park.

The 400-yard Championship at Sunland Park brings together older horses who have won or placed in graded stakes this year.

Before his defeat in the Champion of Champions, Streakin Sin Tacha raced to consecutive wins in the Grade 1 MBNA America Texas Challenge Championship, the Grade 2 Sam Houston Classic, and the Grade 1 MBNA America Challenge Championship.

Owned and trained by Janet VanBebber, Streakin Sin Tacha finished second to A Ransom in last year's inaugural running of The Championship.

Challenging Streakin Sin Tacha in this deep field are Kendall Jackson, Heza Wicked Man, Genuine Strawfly, SC Chiseled in Stone, and Fit to Fly.

Kendall Jackson, owned by MJ Farms, excels at Sunland Park. He has 4 wins from 6 starts this year at Sunland Park, including setting a world record of 20.733 seconds for 440 yards while winning the Grade 1 MBNA America New Mexico Challenge on April 7.

One of the horses that has defeated Kendall Jackson at Sunland Park is Heza Wicked Man, who prevailed in the Grade 3 West Texas Maturity on March 2.

Heza Wicked Man, owned by Sandy Erwin and trained by James Lackey, won the West Texas Maturity by a neck. Heza Wicked Man was second to champion Significant Speed in the All American Gold Cup. Significant Speed went on to win two stakes at Lone Star Park this fall.

Genuine Strawfly and SC Chiseled in Stone were the top derby horses at Ruidoso Downs last summer. Genuine Strawfly won the Grade 1 All American Derby and the Grade 2 Ruidoso Derby. SC Chiseled in Stone won the Grade 1 Rainbow Derby.

Fit to Fly won the Grade 1 Texas Classic Derby in his most recent start.

Jockeys compete at Sunland

Ten jockeys compete for $20,000 in prize money and $110,000 in purses in the American Quarter Horse Association Jockey Championship at Sunland Park on Sunday.

The jockeys are Joe Badilla Jr., Alvin Brossette, G.R. Carter Jr., James Gonzales II, Tad Leggett, Jacky Martin, Freddie Martinez, Gilbert Ortiz, Larry Payne, and Juan Vazquez.

The riders will compete in four races on randomly selected horses. The races are three 400-yard allowances and a 330-yard claiming race.

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