Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino
Friday, March 8, 2024
Henry On The Run posts upset score $100,000 Dominguez Memorial Handicap
Jockey Christian Ramos got the best from Henry On The Run in deep stretch, prevailing by a nose while posting a thrilling upset victory in Friday’s $100,000 Albert and Henry Dominguez Memorial Handicap at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino.
Owned by Abel Montoya Duarte and Eduardo Miramontes and trained by Andres Gonzalez, Henry On The Run was midpack early and down the backstretch while Ar Ya Weegee raced on an uncontested lead through an opening half mile in 48.16 seconds. As the field approached the far turn, Ramos guided Henry On The Run through a wide trip while making up ground alongside Ancient Land and Bodie Got Gold. Those three battled for the lead at the head of the lane before Henry On The Run and Ancient Land, ridden by Ken Tohill, dueled through the final furlong with Ramos getting enough from Henry On The Run to hit the wire first, racing 1 1/16 miles in a time of 1 minute, 44.12 seconds.
A 7-year-old son of Attila’s Storm, Henry On The Run beat optional claimers two starts back over this course on January 19. He was third in most recent start, last month in the Jamison Memorial Handicap and was second last November at Zia Park in the New Mexico Classic Cup Championship Stakes. Friday’s victory is the first career stakes win for Henry On The Run, improving his lifetime record to 10 wins from 39 starts with earnings of more than $258,000. Henry On The Run has now won five times from 13 starts at Sunland Park and has finished no worse than third in eight of his last nine starts.
Sent off at odds of 10.90-to-1, Henry On The Run paid back $23.80 to his winning backers. Ancient Land, one of the longest shots in the field, finished second, well clear of the rest of the field and prompting a $2 exacta payoff of $520.80. Bodie Got Gold finished third under jockey Alejandro Medellin, while an unlucky I’magambler settled for fourth after a slow break found him well off the pace early under jockey Francisco Amparan.
Live racing at Sunland Park continues Saturday and Sunday with a pair of all-quarter horse, nine-race programs that have a first post time of 12:25 p.m.
