Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino (Sunday, January 27,
2008)
Snake Proof wins $50,000 El Paso Times Handicap
Trainer Henry Dominguez saddles top three finishers.
Snake Proof closed with a flourish in deep stretch to capture a one-length win
in the
$50,000 El Paso Times Handicap on Sunday at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino.
The three-year-old Petionville filly led a cavalcade of runners trained by Henry
Dominguez
in the feature race at six and one-half furlongs. Dominguez swept the top three
positions
with Snake Proof, Kuba a Noqua and R Charlie’s Angel.
Patiently handled by jockey Joe Martinez, Snake Proof relaxed nicely off a
ferocious
pace set by Valid Lilly and stablemate R Charlie’s Angel. The early lead was
hotly
contested in 22.12 and 44.57 seconds for the quarter and half mile fractions.
Coming into the stretch run, Snake Proof closed in on the weary pace setters and
gained full control in the final 50 yards. The chestnut filly gained her second
career
win in as many starts. She was timed in an excellent 1:16.13.
The unbeaten sophomore earned a $30,000 paycheck for the Everest Stables, Inc.
Led by J. Nielson.
Dominguez commented on the race in the winner’s circle, “I thought any one of my
fillies could win this race. It just came down to a rider’s race. We are
fortunate to
have horses of this caliber. My long range plans include the WinStar Sunland
Park
Oaks (to be run on Sunday, March 16). All three fillies are headed in that
direction.
If it stays that way, it will be fine with me.”
The all Henry Dominguez $2 trifecta paid a handsome $143.20.
Kuba a Noqua also closed well in the final stanza to earn second place with
jockey
Ken Tohill.
R Charlie Angel’s finished valiantly in third place beaten just over 1 length.
She
responded well to jockey Jorge Espitia and fought grudgingly.
The 9-5 favorite Valid Lilly ran out of gas in fourth place, beaten nearly 10
lengths
for the Steven Asmussen stable.
Live racing resumes on Tuesday at 12:15 p.m.