Tilla Cat leads Fincher sweep in NM Racing Commission Handicap

Tilla Cat led a Todd Fincher-trained sweep of the top three spots in the $85,000 New Mexico State Racing Commission Handicap on Sunday at Sunland Park, where she won the race over stablemates Tijuana and Diabolical Dame.

The New Mexico Racing Commission was one of two stakes on the card. Shining Source won the $85,000 Johnie L. Jamison. Both races were sprints restricted to horses bred in New Mexico.

Tilla Cat ($19.60) led throughout on Sunday, putting up fractions of 21.76 seconds for the opening quarter and 44.10 for the half-mile before covering six furlongs on a fast track in 1:08.28. Tilla Cat won by a half-length over Tijuana, while it was another 2 1/2 lengths back to Diabolical Dame in third.

Tracy Hebert was aboard Tilla Cat for the partnership of Dale Taylor, Scott Bryant, Derrol Hubbard, Joe Dee Brooks, and Lee Lewis. The filly by Attila’s Storm won her second career stakes race Sunday. Overall, she has now won five races from 22 starts for earnings of $294,869.

Shining Source ($18) had one horse best early in the Jamison, as Way Nifty set fractions of 21.87 seconds for the opening quarter and 43.96 for the half-mile. The eventual winner advanced, and went on to a 2 1/4-length win while covering 6 1/2 furlongs on a fast track in a blazing 1:13.94. Go for a Stroll finished second, 1 3/4 lengths clear of third-place finisher Way Nifty.

Citizen Geller, who was the favorite, finished fifth Sunday.

Luis Contreras rode Shining Source for trainer Blake Rust, who co-owns the winner with Barton Ranch Stables. Shining Source, a son of Source, was winning his third career stakes race. He is a nine-time career winner from 36 starts and he has earnings of $352,458.