Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino (Saturday, January 19, 2008)

Askmetodance rolls to win in $125,000 La Senora Handicap

 

 

Askmetodance - La Senora Handicap
Photo Credit: Eugene O'Neill / Coady Photo

 

The razor sharp Askmetodance rolled to a sparkling upset win in the $125,000 La Senora

Handicap at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino.

 

Racing as the 3-1 second choice with Joe Martinez in the saddle, Askmetodance

broke like a shot and placed heavily favored Etoile de Dome under pressure early

in the 6 furlong test for New Mexico-bred fillies.

 

Askmetodance rocketed through the first quarter mile in 21.68 seconds and seemingly

had plenty in reserve going through a half mile in 44.21 seconds. The grey roan daughter

of Ghostly Moves powered up to the stretch run with a daylight lead over Etoile de Dome,

and the favorite had no response.

 

Martinez simply hand rode the filly to a comprehensive two and one-quarter length score

in lightning fast 1:08.99, less than a second off the track record held by Yet Anothernatalie

of 1:08.24 in 2004. Her dazzling display in the La Senora was the fastest in the history

of the rich stakes race. She has positioned herself as one of the leading three-year-old

New Mexico-bred fillies.

 

Askmetodance improved her career record to 3 wins from 4 starts. She has won her last

last three races for the Double Eagle Racing Stable led by Buddy Ritter of Las Cruces,

New Mexico. Her victory on Saturday was worth a cool $75,000.

 

Winning trainer Ray Ashford, Jr. said in the winner’s circle, “She beat some really nice

fillies today. We thought we had her ready. She ran along really well today. Her form

has come around very strongly.”

 

One Bad Ghost came whistling through the stretch to overpower Etoile de Dome

for the exacta. The runner-up has stakes placed three times in her productive career

for trainer Joel Marr. Ken Tohill rode the 8-1 shot, sparking a $43.20 payoff in the

$2 exacta.

 

One Bad Ghost earned $26,250 for the Battershell, Inc. of Corrales, New Mexico.

 

Etoile de Dome ended up a weary third with jockey Casey Lambert. The 1-2 favorite

from the Chris Hartman barn was used up in the duel with Askmetodance. The Red

Hedeman Mile runner-up finished over 7 lengths behind the winner with no visible excuses.

 

Live racing resumes on Sunday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday at 12:15 p.m.