Sum Trick a runaway in Riley Allison

SUNLAND PARK, NM - Making just his second career start, Stanley Fulton's Sum Trick showed that he is a horse for the future by winning the six and one-half furlong Riley Allison Futurity by over four lengths under Mike Clark.

Sum Trick had made his debut in the futurity trials on December 13 and overcame some bumping at the start to finish second, almost five lengths behind Double Intrigue. With a perfect trip and some experience behind him, Sum Trick turned the tables when it counted as Double Intrigue was a distant second this time around, with longshot Seneca Prowler finishing third. Irish Boots, owned and trained by Steve Asmussen, was bet down to $1.30-1 but never fired and finished sixth.

Sum Trick is now on target for a $250,000 bonus if he can win the $500,000 WinStar Derby here on March 31 and the $500,000 Lone Star Derby on May 10.

"We knew he was a good one and have pointed him towards this series all along," trainer O. D. Jamison said after the race. "We didn't start him earlier because we wanted him fresh and sound for these races."

Despite the impressive win, Sum Trick looks as though he will improve with more

seasoning and distance. Sum Trick's time of 1:15.43 was only .48 off the track record set just nine days ago by Proud to be Bold.

By 1997 Horse of the Year Favorite Trick, Sum Trick returned $14.80 to astute players who noticed the overlay.

Irish Boots was one of half-dozen starters, four of whom won, that Asmussen brought to Sunland this weekend in his battle with Scott Lake to take the national title for wins by a trainer.