Sunland: Souris avenges defeat

Trainer Steve Asmussen hasn't had too many things to be disappointed about the past couple seasons. But when Souris finished a non-threatening third in an allowance race at Sunland Park Dec. 11, he had to be wondering. After all, Souris had been competitive with top-class fillies such as Lady Tak and My Trusty Cat, and as recently as Nov. 6 won an allowance race at Churchill Downs with a 105 Beyer Speed Figure.

On Dec. 11, however, Souris broke slowly, swung wide and tried to make a run, but Southwest hotshot Yet Anothernatalie was already long gone, using her speed to take command early and build an insurmountable lead. She set a track record of 1:08.24 for the six furlongs in the process.

Undeterred, Asmussen wheeled back Souris for revenge last Sunday in the $53,250 .

This time Souris did not allow Yet Anothernatalie to get away. With Wade Rini aboard, Souris bided her time, then pounced entering the stretch, drawing off to a convincing 1 1/4-length victory. It didn't hurt that Yet Anothernatalie was involved in a speed duel with Sandia's Flicka and Lauren Lynn. The duel took its toll. Sandia's Flicka kept going and finished second, but Yet Anothernatalie tired in the lane to end up third, about three lengths behind Sandia's Flicka.