Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino (Saturday, February 16, 2008)

Poni Colada wins $100,000 Borderland Derby by 8 lengths

 

Poni Colada Borderland Derby
-Photo Credit: Eugene O'Neill / Coady Photo

 

 

Poni Colada remained unbeaten in New Mexico with a stirring 8-length victory in the $100,000

Borderland Derby at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino on Saturday.

 

The striking chestnut colt by Volponi stunned his rivals with a powerful middle move in the

prep race for the $600,000 WinStar Derby to be run at Sunland Park on Sunday, March 16.

 

Under a calculated ride from Alfredo Juarez, Jr., Poni Colada benefited from a fast early

pace and rolled from the last to first in the one and one-sixteenth mile event. With his long

sweeping strides, Poni Colada gathered in his rivals at will and took command at the quarter

pole. He had plenty in reserve and increased his margin during the stretch run.

 

Juarez said, “I knew the pace was very fast, so we sat back and waited. He started rolling

really good down the backside. He’s a really nice horse.”

 

Poni Colada raced through the blustery conditions in 1:47.19.  He is now a two-time stakes

winner in New Mexico, having also won the Eddy County Stakes at Zia Park last November.

 

The Borderland Derby winner is owned by Robert Zollars and Mark Wagner of Dallas, Texas.

Zollars indicated the WinStar Derby might be Poni Colada’s next assignment.

 

Wagner said, “This win makes Poni Colada the leading offspring of the former Breeders’

Cup Classic winner Volponi.”

 

Poni Colada earned $60,000 on Sunday, doubling his lifetime earnings to over $123,000. The

8-5 betting favorite was trained by trained by Steven Asmussen.

 

Cape Time closed resolutely in deep stretch to gain second place over the highly touted

Santa Anita maiden winner No Jepordy. The runner-up earned $21,000 for the Black Hawk

Stable.

 

No Jepordy raced as a close second favorite for trainer Doug O’Neill. The Storm Boot colt

made a solid move around the far turn but was no threat to the winner. Doug O”Neill is a

2-time winner of the WinStar Derby in 2003 and 2005.