Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino (Sunday, April 13, 2008)

Hearts Runaway captures $342,850 New Mexican Spring Futurity

Trainer Blane Wood sweeps top three positions

 

Hearts Runaway - Photo Credit: Eugene O'Neill / Coady Photo

 

Trainer Blane Wood recorded a rare 1-2-3 finish in the $342,850 New Mexican

Spring Futurity led by the winner Hearts Runaway on Sunday at Sunland Park

Racetrack and Casino.

 

Wood qualified four runners for the finale and achieved the stakes sweep with

Hearts Runaway, Victoria Hotpants and Makeminecaine.

 

Hearts Runaway defeated a highly competitive field of two-year-old New Mexico-breds

to the wire. He and jockey Ricky Ramirez pulled clear in the finals yards to win

by a neck. Hearts Runaway recovered well from a mediocre start and closed well

from fourth place. The winner was one of five finalists qualified by Ramirez.

 

The unbeaten son Runaway Colors earned a hefty paycheck of $161,140 for owners

Tommy and Mike Morris and Randy Bouldin. The winning time was a sharp

15.175 seconds, earning a 94 speed index.

 

Victoria Hotpants and jockey Salvador Martinez held on for a close second.

The runner-up earned $61,713 for the Victory Farms.

 

Makeminecaine completed the Blane Wood trained trifecta. The third place

finisher wound up only one-half length behind the winner. Makeminecaine

was ridden by Esgar Ramirez.