Wine Police prevails in Lea County

Wine Police recaptured his best form Tuesday, when he stalked a hot pace and put in a determined stretch bid for a half-length win over stablemate Unfettered in the $55,000 Lea County at Zia Park. It was another three-quarters of a length back to Watch Me Go in third.

Wine Police ($4.40) and Unfettered gave trainer Henry Dominguez a one-two finish in the Lea County.

The race was Wine Police’s first since finishing an uncharacteristic ninth in the $150,000 Remington Park Sprint Cup in September. He settled in third behind Unfettered and Homerun Berti, who dueled through an opening half-mile in 44.46 seconds. Wine Police moved in on the leaders on the turn, overtook Unfettered nearing the wire, and covered 5 1/2 furlongs on a track rated “fast” in 1:02.56.

Enrique Gomez was aboard for owners J. Kirk and Judy Robison.

Wine Police earned $34,100 for his win, which was the seventh of his 21-race career and his fourth in a stakes. Wine Police has earned $475,607. He is a 6-year-old son of Speightstown and was bred in Kentucky by John Mulholland and Martha Jane Mulholland.

Marr reaches milestone

Joel Marr picked up the 1,000th Thoroughbred training win of his career in the 11th race on Tuesday, when Sweet Diamond stormed to a 2 3/4-length win under Ken Tohill. Sweet Diamond was claimed out of the maiden route for fillies and mares for $6,500.

Marr, 46, is best known for training Peppers Pride, the New Mexico-bred millionaire who retired with a 19-for-19 record. He registered the first win of his training career at Sunland Park on Feb. 2, 1991.

Marr has had 5,577 Thoroughbred starters, and they have earned a collective $19,627,200. Beyond the 1,000 wins, he has won 161 races with other breeds, mostly Quarter Horses.