Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino (Saturday, February 9, 2008)

Absolutely True closes fast to win $50,000 Budweiser Handicap

in track record time

 

Absolutely True - Photo credit: Eugene O'Neill / Coady Photo

 

Absolutely True closed with a terrific turn of foot to win the $50,000 Budweiser

Handicap in track record time on Saturday at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino.

 

The eight-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding by Is It True rated patiently off a ferocious

pace before finishing with a flourish to win the 5 furlong stakes in track record time

of 55.87 seconds. Under jockey Travis Wales, the proven multiple stakes winner

showed his mettle under pressure.

 

Wales directed his mount toward the rail for a ground saving ride around the far turn.

His mount picked up steam at the top of the stretch and directed his attack on the

leading contingent of Garbu’s Tab and Yonegwa.

 

Absolutely True moved to the outside for his stretch run and swept past the front

runners in deep stretch, winning impressively by one and one half lengths. The 5-1

shot made up over 5-lengths to win the feature race. The winning time eclipsed the

former track record of 55.90 seconds set by Jimmy Jones in 2004.

 

Under the care of the dynamic trainer Jon Arnett, Absolutely True has blossomed

into a seasoned stakes sprinter in recent years. His career earnings moved past

$355,000 from 14 career wins. The Wafer Thoroughbred Ranch, Inc. of Centennial,

Colorado took home a $30,000 paycheck on Saturday.

 

Jon Arnett enjoyed a big day by winning three races on the card. He is making

a serious campaign for leading Thoroughbred trainer this season.

 

Garbu’s Tab ran his heart out in the Budweiser rattling through fractions of

21.04 seconds and 43.57 seconds. The 5-2 second favorite seem to wear down

a bit in the final stages after dueling with Yonegwa for early supremacy. He

finished a valiant second with jockey Casey Lambert.

 

Frankenbean, a rising New Mexico-bred talent, ran boldly to finish a neck

behind in third. The post time favorite Yonegwa ran out of steam in fourth,

beaten over 4 lengths.