Sunland Park track report

Run him short and you get a lot of Bang for your buck. That was evident Saturday in the $50,000 Budweiser Handicap at Sunland Park, where Bang showed off his speed and went wire to wire as the favorite.

Owned by William Hedrick and trained by Jackie Payton, Bang has been a whiz here going short. He owns the Sunland track records for 1,000 yards and 6 1/2 furlongs. Saturday's Budweiser, at five furlongs, gave him nine wins in 17 starts for earnings of over $236,000.

"I really believe in this horse," said jockey Tony Noguez. "I just wanted to keep him out of trouble and help him relax."

Payton said Bang might run next in the $50,000 Bill Thomas Memorial Handicap on Mar. 4. That race is at 6 1/2 furlongs.

Full Moon Madness, an 11-year-old, may not be what he once was, but he can still be a factor on his day. Saturday, unfortunately, wasn't his day. Under Ricardo Jaime, Full Moon Madness missed the break in the Budweiser, was jostled around between horses, and then pitched wide on the far turn to find clear sailing. He kept to his task, but by then Bang was long gone. Full Moon Madness finished sixth of nine. He was claimed at Santa Anita for $16,000 by Leonard Duncan and brought to Sunland for the Budweiser.

A California-bred, Full Moon Madness has won of 17 of 60 races for earnings of more than $1.2 million.