Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino (Saturday, April 5, 2008)

Jessgottahaveit takes $150,926 West Texas Derby

 

Jessgottahaveit - Photo Credit: Eugene O'Neill / Coady Photo

 

Jessgottahaveit outstretched his rivals to win the Grade 2 $150,926 West Texas Derby

at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino on Saturday.

 

Racing at 4-1 odds, Jessgottahaveit broke strongly along the inside with jockey Abdel

Torres in the saddle. The three-year-old colt by Mr Jess Perry poured on the pressure

and opened up a half-length lead mid-way through the stretch. He fought gamely in

the final stages and withstood a late surge from A Real Shaker to win by a nose.

 

Jessgottahaveit zipped through the 400 yards in a fast 19.20 seconds, good for a 96

speed index. The victory was the first stakes win at Sunland Park for horse and jockey.

 

The winner was trained by Salvador Soto for the J & H Racing Farms of Monahans, Texas.

First place in the West Texas Derby was worth $70,935.

 

Jessgottahaveit earned an automatic berth into the Grade 1 $400,000 Championship

at Sunland Park to be run next December. He is a 2-time winner from 8 starts.

 

A Real Shaker, the top qualifier, outran his post time odds of nearly 5-1 odds. He and

jockey Salvador Martinez closed furiously on the outside and just missed in a photo

finish. The runner-up earned $27,167 for owner Ray Herring of Graham, Texas.

 

Gettin The Cash, the 350 yard world record holder, ran well to earn third place, beaten

less than one-half length.

 

Built For Fun and Gone to the Mountain ran fifth and eighth, respectively as the 3-1

post time favorites.