Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino
Saturday, February 8, 2020
by Eric Alwan
Susans Violette holds off rivals to win $100,000 La Coneja Stakes
Susans Violette continued her dream season at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino with a determined victory in the $100,000 La Coneja Stakes.
Under jockey Enrique Gomez, Susans Violette pushed the pace from the get go in the 6 furlong feature for New Mexico-bred fillies and mares. The 7-5 favorite responded in kind with a wire to wire victory holding off Orogrande by a neck. The five-year-old Stellar Rain mare also had to fend off major threats from Sexy Bikini Model and I’m A Dancin Who. That duo finished a close third and fourth, respectively in a blanket finish. The winning time was 1:09.92. The top four finishers were separated by less than one length at the wire.
Kentucky Derby winning trainer Chip Woolley has performed a masterful job on his star mare. Susans Violette remains unbeaten in three Sunland Park outings. She has won the last two runnings of the $100,000 New Mexico Racing Commission Handicaps. She earned $60,000 from her latest triumph for co-owners Chip Woolley and Steven Stewart of Bloomfield, New Mexico.
In total, Susans Violette has won 7 races from 12 starts with earnings topping $312,000. She is the leading New Mexico-bred sprinting mare.
Orogrande fought valiantly racing between horses through the stretch drive but could only manage second place for trainer Dallas Barton.
Live racing resumes on Sunday at 12:25 p.m. The featured 9th race is the $65,000 Winsham Lad Handicap for older horses racing one mile. Multiple stakes winner Pendleton squares off against arch rivals Lookin At Lee, Sphene and Bokeelia Island.
Photo Credit: Coady Photography
