Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino (Sunday, February 10, 2008)
Paltu roars in $27,400 SPRC Claiming Stakes
Ninety Nine Jack upsets Some Ghost in $41,900 allowance
Paltu - SPRC
Claiming Stakes - Photo
Credit: Eugene O'Neill / Coady Photo
Paltu roared to a stylish two and one-quarter length win in the inaugural running of the
$27,400 Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino Claiming Stakes at five and one-half furlongs.
Under Casey Lambert, Paltu dominated a solid group of $7,500 claimers and stopped
the clock in an eye opening 1:02.63. His 8th career win from 24 starts was certainly a
career highlight for the five-year-old gelded son of Hadif.
Paltu earned $16,440 for his efforts. David Wolochuk conditioned the talented sprinter.
Lambert said in the winner’s circle, “It was a pretty easy trip, actually. He stalked well
and turning into the stretch, he really exploded. Dave said the horse was doing really
well. He’s put me on 10 horses this season, and I think I’ve won with 7 of them.”
Moolah Basket and Random Gold finished second and third, respectively.
Paltu was claimed for $7,500 by new owners Charles Henderson and Peggy Rust.
Blake Rust is the new trainer.
Ninety Nine Jack scored a mild upset on Sunday by defeating the highly decorated
stakes champ Some Ghost in the featured $41,900 allowance at 6 furlongs.
The nine-year-old grey gelding beat Some Ghost to the punch by opening up an
insurmountable advantage in mid-stretch. Winning jockey Martin Bourdieu guided
9-2 shot home with a confident hand ride. The winning margin was one and one-half
lengths.
Ninety Nine Jack blasted through the distance in a fast 1:08.96. The durable sort
has won 18 races from 49 starts in his brilliant career. His career earnings are
closing in on $600,000.
Loyal backers of Ninety Nine Jack received $11.40 on each $2 win ticket.
The heavy favorite Some Ghost did his best with a strong closing punch but ran
out of real estate. The expert router had to settle for second place in the rich
sprint race. Some Ghost is a 3-time winner of the $100,000 Albert Dominguez
Memorial Handicap
Racing resumes on Tuesday at 12:15 p.m.