Sunland Park

SUNLAND PARK, N.M. - Ciento, a 3-year-old owned in partnership by Arden Hawkins, Glen Robertson, and John Terry, schooled his elders in the $103,800 Viva El Paso Stakes for New Mexico-breds last Saturday afternoon at Sunland Park.

Jockey Mike Clark rallied Ciento six-wide on the turn to win going away by a 1 1/2 lengths, covering the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.04, one second off the 38-year-old track record. Ciento, trained by Dick Cappellucci, earned $62,280, putting his career total over $160,000 by winning his fourth stakes. Ciento, who now has a record of 15-7-2-1, returned $4.40 as the favorite.

* Catherine Rausch's 7-year-old mare Chasin' Rain finished her career on a winning note Sunday with a courageous victory against money allowance competition. Setting the pace in the mile race, Chasin' Rain was challenged at one point or another by every horse in the field, and in deep stretch resisted rallies from her inside and outside before drawing clear in the final sixteenth, finishing one mile in 1:39.49.

The win gave Chasin' Rain a lifetime record of 50-12-10-6 and earnings of over $146,000. Chasin' Rain won four stakes in her career, and when Rausch was asked which was her highlight, she took the "win is a win is a win" approach, saying "every one of them was exciting."

Chasin' Rain, a California-bred by Creekarosa, will now be sent to Double L Farm in Bosque, N. M., where she will be bred to Chimes Band, who recently relocated from Kentucky and is standing at Double L for a $3,500 fee.

* Jockey Victor Escobar, who doubles as a Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred rider, was off to a disappointing start at the Sunland meet, winning with just two of his first 26 mounts. On Tuesday's card, however, he broke rom his slump and narrowly missed a rare six-bagger, scoring four victories and finishing second in two tight photos. Escobar won with two Quarter Horses, JA Nine Ball ($5) in the first and Better Remember Me ($6) in the third. His Thoroughbred wins came on Chris Can Travy ($21.60) in the seventh and Vernon Invader ($4.80) in the ninth.