Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino
Saturday, February 22. 2020
by Eric Alwan
Djs Winner scores in $100,000 Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap
Djs Winner surged on the outside of rivals to win the $100,000 Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap by a neck on Saturday at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino.
The four-year-old New Mexico-bred filly by Winners Version earned her first stakes win with a resolute effort. The 4-time winner from 13 starts roared to a career best performance and beat the boys in the process. Under jockey Noe Garcia, Jr, Djs Winner sped through the 350 yards in a fast 17.269 seconds, good for a 95 speed index. The fast filly eclipsed Woodys Copy Cat and Marcus Medallion in the final 100 yards to get the victory. She paid $11.00 to win.
Chary Ride picked a lucrative time to break her maiden and collected the $60,000 Djs Winner nearly doubled her lifetime earnings with the $60,000 winner’s share. The stakes winning filly is owned by the Double Eagle Ranch led by Mark Allen of Roswell, New Mexico. Mr. Allen is the co-owner of the 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird. Toby Keeton is the winning trainer.
Woodys Copy Cat finished in second place at 12-1 odds, a nose in front of Marcus Medallion.
Live racing resumes on Sunday with a stupendous card at 1 p.m. The $100,000 Mine That Bird Derby, $100,000 Red Hedeman Mile, $100,000 Albert and Henry Dominguez Handicap and $75,000 Island Fashion Stakes are on tap. The Mine That Bird Derby is the final local prep race for the $700,000 Sunland Derby (Gr. III) to be run on Sunday, March 22.
Photo Credit: Coady Photography
