Thunder Dome faces Blazing Navarone in Dominguez Memorial
Thunder Dome is the horse to beat Sunday in the $85,000 Albert Dominguez Memorial Handicap at Sunland Park, while the sentimental choice is Blazing Navarone.
The Dominguez, at 1 1/16 miles, is for 4-year-olds and up bred in New Mexico. It has drawn a field of nine, with eight of them stakes winners.
Thunder Dome has won three straight races, including the richest offering for his statebred division, the $180,000 New Mexico Cup Classic on Nov. 4 at Zia Park.
Blazing Navarone is co-owned and trained by Henry Dominguez, brother of the late Albert Dominguez. Albert Dominguez was a trainer who later served as a racing official in various capacities, including starter. The men are from a family of seven children.
Albert Dominguez Memorial (Race 8)
KEY CONTENDERS
Thunder Dome, by Dome
Last 3 Beyers: 78-77-60
◗ He began his win streak in October with a front-running allowance victory at Zia Park. It set him up for a 3 1/4-length score in the New Mexico Cup Classic. From there, Thunder Dome turned up at Sunland, and on the cutback from a mile to 6 1/2 furlongs he closed for a one-length win in the $85,000 Johnie L. Jamison Dec. 29.
◗ Thunder Dome leads all starters in the Dominguez field in earnings with $529,263. He is a winner of nine of 26 starts, with four stakes victories. Thunder Dome races for W.D. Carson Sr., M.H. Carson, and Leach Racing.
◗ Alfredo Juarez Jr. has the mount from post 5 for trainer Dallas Barton.
Blazing Navarone, by Song of Navarone
Last 3 Beyers: 77-64-60
◗ He is a four-time stakes winner coming off a fourth-place finish to Thunder Dome in the Jamison. The start was his first since Nov. 4, when he won the $140,000 New Mexico Cup Derby.
◗ Blazing Navarone boasts a 4-for-5 record at Sunland. He won three straight stakes at the meet last season, taking the Four Rivers John Deere, the Red Hedeman Mile, and the New Mexico Breeders’ Derby.
◗ Henry Dominguez also trained his sire, Song of Navarone, who like Blazing Navarone had a good deal of success at Sunland. Song of Navarone won the Sunland Park Derby when it was called the WinStar Derby and captured the track’s Winsham Lad, Curribot, and Sunland Park Handicap.
◗ George E. Coleman, who raced Song of Navarone, owns Blazing Navarone with Dominguez.
◗ Ry Eikleberry has the mount from the rail.
