Sunday, April 5, 2026
Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino
Vodka Vodka storms home to win 65th edition of $250,000 Casa Ford/Sunland Park Stakes
Vodka Vodka made his Sunland Park debut a winning one with jockey Kent Desormeaux aboard, rolling down the stretch to a convincing win in Sunday’s 65th edition of the $250,000 Casa Ford/Sunland Park Stakes on the final day of the 2026 racing season.
Trained by Aggie Ordonez for owners McLean Racing Stables, Connie Baker, Jerry Baker and Ordonez, Vodka Vodka was close to the lead down the backstretch while contesting the pace alongside Malarchuk and Heroic Move. As the field raced around the far turn, Desormeaux asked the California-bred son of Vino Rosso for another gear. The pair opened up on their rivals in the final yards, crossing the finish line 2 1-4 lengths in front, racing 1 1-8 miles in a time of 1 minute, 48.12 seconds.
Vodka Vodka was coming into the Casa Ford/Sunland Park Stakes off a second place finish in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap last month. His most recent win was on the turf in the Unusual Heat Turf Classic at Santa Anita last January. His win on Sunday improves his career record to five wins from 13 starts with earnings approaching $570,000.
Sent off as the even-money favorite, Vodka Vodka paid $4.20 to his winning backers. The $2 exacta with Malarchuk returned $24.40. Bearings settled for third with Cornishman rounding out the top four finishers.
Avery Place rolls down the stretch in 25th running of $175,000 Mine That Bird Derby
Avery Place and jockey Alfredo Juarez, Jr. did everything right on Sunday, rallying on the outside and posting a mild upset score in the 25th running of the $175,000 Mine That Bird Derby.
The lightly raced, Kentucky-bred son of Vino Rosso advanced from his midpack position down the backstretch while post time favorite Misinformation dueled on the lead with Mischief Maker and Zilarro through an opening half-mile timed in 47.94 seconds.
Rounding the far turn, Juarez guided Avery Place four-wide approaching the top of the stretch, putting a head in front in the final yards and drawing away late to win by 1 3-4 lengths, racing 1 1/8 miles in a time of 1:51.63.
Avery Place, coming into the Mine That Bird Derby off a maiden win in just his second career start at Sam Houston Race Course on Feb. 27, is owned by Judge Lanier Racing, LLC and H.P. Drought and Company and trained by Dick Cappellucci. He was purchased for $35,000 last November at the Keeneland Association Sales. His win in the Mine That Bird Derby improves his record to two wins from three starts with earnings of more than $133,000.
Sent off at odds of 4-to-1, Avery Place returned $10 to his winning backers. Smoovin Saturday finished well late under jockey Florent Geroux and finished second, prompting a $59.60 exacta return on a $2 wager. Zilarro finished third with Misinformation rounding out the top four finishers.
Marking Canyon proves best late in 23rd running of $100,000 New Mexico State University Stakes
Marking Canyon picked up his second straight win and second stakes win of the Sunland Park season, rumbling down the lane and prevailing in the 23rd running of the $100,000 New Mexico State University Stakes under jockey Aldo Arboleda.
Trained by Leroy Fincher, Marking Canyon was never too far behind a moderate pace, with post time favorite Corrina Corrina dueling with Holy Hank and Antonio’s Mark through a half mile timed in 48.31 seconds. As the field turned for home, Marking Canyon loomed on the outside and gradually wore down Corrina Corrina and jockey Tracy Hebert to win by a length. The son of Marking stopped the clock in a time of 1:41.26 for the 1 mile and 70 yard journey.
Marking Canyon came into the NMSU Stakes off a convincing score in the Albert and Henry Dominguez Memorial Stakes last time out. Owned by Leroy A. and Maureen S. Fincher and bred by Leroy Fincher, Marking Canyon has now won eight times from 25 lifetime starts with earnings of more than $530,000.
Corrina Corrina, looking to snap a two-race losing streak and currently the all-time winningest and richest New Mexico-bred thoroughbred racehorse, finished second, well clear of the rest of the field. She remains at 22 wins from 45 starts with career earnings of more than $1.56 million.
Sent off as the 2.30-to-1 second choice in the wagering, Marking Canyon paid $6.60 to his winning backers. The $2 exacta with Corrina Corrina returned $12.60. Antonio’s Mark settled for third with Holy Hank rounding out the top four finishers.
Evans captures thoroughbred training title, Negron tops thoroughbred jockey standings
Justin Evans secured another championship of the Sunland Park season, narrowly edging Dick Cappellucci atop the thoroughbred trainer standings. Both Evans and Cappellucci, last year’s leading thoroughbred trainer, finished the meet with 28 winners. Evans, by virtue of more second place finishes (16-12) claims the top spot in the standings. In the jockey standings, Luis Negron’s 35 winners this season earned him the title of leading thoroughbred rider, ahead of Alfredo Juarez, Jr. Bob Matney (nine winners) narrowly edged the team of Leslie Amestoy, Pierre Jean Amestoy, Jr. and Roger Beasley atop the thoroughbred owner standings.
