Tornados Jack wins Red Hedeman Mile

Sunland Park, N. M. - With no horse in the field having experience at a mile and two speedy types as the obvious choices, a late closer figured to win Saturday's $125,000-added Red Hedeman Mile for New Mexico-bred two-year-olds at Sunland Park. As it turned out, Tornados Jack was the horse for the day, circling the field into the stretch and drawing off in the final furlong to win by three and a quarter lengths, getting the mile in 1:39.83 under Garrett Gomez and returning $7.60. The win was Gomez's second of the day, extending his meet leading total to 12 from just 26 mounts.

Tornados Jack not only lacked route experience but also came into the race off a two month layoff. "I always figured he could get a distance, being by Jack Wilson" trainer Fred Danley commented after the race. "I pointed him for this race all along, and trained him pretty hard leading up to it. Also, I had confidence that Gomez would give him the patient ride he needed to still be going in the stretch, and it all worked out perfectly."

The expected speed duel between Bubba Hyde and Hasty Gus was compromised by bad racing luck for both horses. Bubba Hyde stumbled at the start and Hasty Gus, breaking from post ten with a short run to the first turn, got hung out wide. Both managed to reach front runner Stormy Lane but then tired in the stretch. Casperino closed late for the place and Stormy Lane held on well to finish third.

Bred and owned by W. T. Stradley and Tom Williams, Tornados Jack earned an automatic berth in the $500,000 Winstar Derby here on March 30.