Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino
Saturday, February 7, 2026
Toastin Heros rallies for upset score in 24th edition of $350,000 Grade 1 Championship at Sunland Park
Toastin Heros emerged from a tight pack of sprinters in the final yards to prove best in an upset score of the 24th running of the prestigious $350,000 Grade 1 Championship at Sunland Park under jockey Jacob Enriquez.
Owned by H. Gene Cox and trained by this season’s leading quarter horse conditioner Clinton Crawford, Toastin Heros broke with the field in the 440-yard dash. The Oklahoma-bred son of Valiant Hero poked his head in front inside the final 40 yards and proved best, outfinishing RC Corona King by a head at the wire. Toastin Heros reached the finish line in a time of 21.15 seconds.
Prior to his win in the Grade 1 Championship at Sunland Park, Toastin Heros biggest score was in last fall’s La Fiesta Derby at Albuquerque Downs. He now has won seven times from 16 career starts and has amassed earnings of more than $344,600.
Sent off at odds of 13-to-1, Toastin Heros returned $28 to his winning backers. RC Corona King, sent off at more than 16-to-1 odds, prompted a $486.80 payoff on the $2 exacta. Post time favorite FDD Dreams was third best with last year’s Championship at Sunland Park winner Shakers No Secret finishing fourth.
Jet Black Eagles proves narrowly best in 53rd running of $186,490 Shue Fly Stakes
Just before the running of the Championship at Sunland Park, Jet Black Eagles posted a narrow upset score in the 53rd running of $186,490 Shue Fly Stakes under jockey Christian Ramos.
The New Mexico-bred son of Jet Black Patriot picked up his first career stakes win in dramatic fashion, up in the final strides for trainer Dominic Duree and owner Michael G. Parker. After a clean start from his outside post, Ramos pushed Jet Black Patriot every step of the way, outnodding the prohibitive post time favorite Pour Me A Drinkk by a nose. The winner stopped the clock in 19.67 seconds for 400 yards over a fast track.
Jet Black Patriot earned his way into the starting gate for the Shue Fly when trials were held here on Jan. 10. He finished second behind Pour Me A Drinkk in the same trial heat before avenging that narrow defeat in the finals. Saturday’s win increases his career earnings to more than $133,000.
A two-time winner from nine lifetime starts, Jet Black Eagles was sent off at 6.80-to-1 and returned $15.60 to his winning backers. The exacta with runner-up Pour Me A Drinkk returned $33.20. BV China Dawl finished third with The Ghan settling for fourth. Chamacuz was scratched earlier in the day, leaving the Shue Fly Stakes with a field of nine starters.
Mucho Zmoke much the best in 20th running of $60,000 Lonnie and Candy Elam Memorial Stakes
In the first stakes race of the Saturday program, Mucho Zmoke, under a perfectly-timed ride by Francisco Amparan, scored a breathtaking win in the 20th running of $60,000 Lonnie and Candy Elam Memorial Stakes.
Trained by Wes Giles for owners Curtis Crenwelge, Jim Laird and Jose R. Espinosa, Mucho Zmoke poured on the speed from his outside post in the 870-yard affair, quickly taking the lead just a few strides out of the gate. Mucho Zmoke was hounded for much of the race to the top of the lane to his inside by Stinky Feet and jockey Omar Iturralde. Mucho Zmoke cleared that challenge before withstanding the late rally from Little Moon Dawg and jockey Christian Ramos.
The New Mexico-bred son of Kj Mucho Macho Man prevailed by a neck, stopping the clock in a time of 45.72 seconds.
Mucho Zmoke is unbeaten in four starts at the 870-yard distance, earning his first career stakes win. He has won four times from 13 starts with earnings of more than $147,000. The winner returned $7 to his winning backers as the 5-to-2 second choice. The $2 exacta with Little Moon Dawg paid back $37.40. Stinky Feet settled for third with Jess A Outlaw rounding out the top four finishers. El Vital, sent off as the post time favorite, finished last in the eight-horse field.
London Bridge top qualifier for $175,000 estimated West Texas Derby
Here are the qualifiers for the $175,000 estimated West Texas Derby to be run on Saturday, February 28.
- London Bridge, 19.312
- Faust, 19.360
- Regarding Jess, 19.378
- Litenin, 19.379
- Kj Flashing Candy, 19.442
- Traxion, 19.529
- Ring A Ling Ding, 19.552
- Achylles, 19.576
- Expenssive Boots,19.591
- Texas Pharoah 19.595
Live racing resumes Sunday at Sunland Park, with the $80,000 La Coneja Stakes the featured event of the day. First post time on Sunday is 12:25 p.m.
