MINE THAT STAR
Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino
Sunday, April 2, 2023
Mine That Star rolls to victory in 62nd running of $150,000 Sunland Park Handicap on closing day
Judge Lanier Racing’s Mine That Star turned in a virtuoso performance, drawing away from his rivals at the head of the lane on his way to a devastating win in Sunday’s 62nd running of the $150,000 Sunland Park Handicap on Sunday’s closing day program at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino.
Ridden to victory by Ken Tohill for trainer Nancy Summers, Mine That Star hounded pacesetting Limonite and jockey Luis Rodriguez down the backstretch, stalking that one through moderate early fractions.
Approaching the far turn, Mine That Star raced up alongside his rival and gradually found himself on a loose lead entering the stretch. The 6-year-old son of Pioneerof the Nile crossed the wire 3 1/4 lengths in front of late-running Zestful at the wire, racing 1 1/8 miles in 1 minute, 49.5 seconds.
Mine That Star earned the eighth win of his 20-race career in the Sunland Park Handicap. His last trip to the winners circle came last November at Zia Park when he won the Veterans Stakes by eight lengths. Sunday’s win pads Mine That Star’s career bankroll to nearly $425,000. Mine That Star is a half-brother to 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird.
The win is another important milestone for Tohill, who last weekend captured his first career victory in the $600,000 Grade III Sunland Derby aboard 35-to-1 longshot Wild On Ice. Tohill, the all-time winningest jockey at Sunland Park, finishes this season in third place in the thoroughbred jockey standings behind Luis Fuentes and Alfredo Juarez, Jr.
Sent off as the 17-to-10 post time favorite, Mine That Star returned $5.40 to his winning backers. The $2 exacta with runner-up Zestful, with Isaias Enriquez aboard, paid back $15.80. Limonite weakened to finish third, with Sheriff Brown rounding out the top four finishers.
Clayton Delaney was scratched earlier in the day, leaving the Sunland Park Handicap with a field of five runners.
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