Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino (Saturday, January 26,
2008)
Brax and jockey Casey Lambert finish strongly to win $125,000
Pepsi Cola Handicap
A determined Brax with jockey Casey Lambert pulled through with a brave second
effort to win the $125,000 Pepsi Cola Handicap by a neck at Sunland Park
Racetrack
and Casino on Saturday
Let go at 8-1 odds, Brax outran his odds under a stirring ride from Lambert.
The winner did not have a smooth journey. While making a bold move coming
off the turn, Brax was forced to check hard and lost momentum in upper
stretch.
Lambert was able to maneuver his mount through traffic, and the game runner
remained full of run with dead aim on the even money favorite Run Like Fire.
The courageous chestnut gelding roared along the inside to gain a narrow edge
at the wire. The winning time for the 6 furlongs was a good 1:10.42. Brax
returned $18.80 on a $2 win ticket for his loyal supporters.
The winning rider described the race in the winner’s circle, “We were fortunate
to
win today. It was a tough go. We had an opening but it closed on us. He must
have made up 3 or 4 lengths in the stretch. We are really proud of this horse.
He’s a company horse, named after my oldest boy.”
Brax completed a big payday for the Lambert family as Casey’s father Cliff is
the winning owner, trainer and breeder. The first place check was a cool
$75,000.
The New Mexico-bred three-year-old owns 4 wins from 11 starts and has earned
over $217,000 for the Lambert stable.
Saturday’s achievement marked yet another impressive stakes winning ride
for Casey Lambert. The former Coronado graduate has taken the young Sunland
Park meet by storm winning four big stakes races including the $100,000
Albert Dominguez Memorial Handicap with Some Ghost and the $50,000
Winsham Lad Handicap with Smooth Bid. Lambert has won more stakes races
than any other pilot so far this season.
Run Like Fire had no excuses in defeat. The runner-up had the look of a winner
down the lane but could not hold off Brax in the final strides. The three-time
stakes
winner earned $26,250 for owner Mary Bowden of Horseshoe Bay, Texas.
Playingwithchimes wound up in third place, nearly 3 lengths behind the winner.
Racing resumes on Sunday at 12:15 p.m. The $50,000 El Paso Times Handicap
is the featured 10th race at six and one-half furlongs.
The lightning fast Valid Lilly is the 2-1 morning line favorite for trainer
Steven
Asmussen. The multiple stakes winner presents a commanding bankroll of
over $213,000. Former Hawthorne rider Timothy Thornton gets the call.