FARMINGTON – Corrina Corrina added another stakes race victory to her already impressive resumé, rallying from off the pace to post a convincing win Sunday in the $70,000 Russell and Helen Foutz Distaff Stakes at SunRay Park and Casino.
Ridden by Tracy Hebert for trainer Gary Cross and owner Derrick Jenkins, Corrina Corrina was last early, trailing by seven lengths down the backstretch while Mo Money Time and Julia’s Promise were engaged in a pace duel through a quick half mile timed in 45.88 seconds. Hebert guided the 7-year-old mare to the outside as she made up ground and was battling for the lead at the head of the stretch.
Corrina Corrina put away her rivals inside the final furlong and rolled to a 1 1/2 length win, stopping the clock in 1 minute, 17.78 seconds for the 6 1/2 furlong journey.
Bred in New Mexico by Jenkins, Corrina Corrina picked up her third win from seven starts at SunRay Park and Casino, but her first in the Foutz Distaff.
The daughter of Mr Trieste snapped a three-race losing streak with her win on Sunday, improving her lifetime record to 23 wins from 46 starts. The all-time leader among state-bred thoroughbreds in both wins and earnings, Corrina Corrina pads her bankroll to more than $1.6 million.
Corrina Corrina’s win in the Foutz Distaff is her 18th lifetime stakes win and her first win from four starts this year. She was second last time out behind Marking Canyon in the New Mexico State University Stakes at Sunland Park.
Sent off at odds of 4-to-5, Corrina Corrina paid $3.60 to her winning backers. The $2 exacta with First Again returned $9.80. Julia’s Promise settled for third while Mo Money Time rounded out the top four finishers.
Jockey Jesse Levario guided HM Bigdad Relentless to a clear lead midway down the stretch before holding off a fast-closing Jess Fire Up in Friday’s $70,000 New Mexico Breeders Stakes (R-G3) on opening day at SunRay Park and Casino.
Trained by Jorge A. Morales-Flores and owned and bred by Norberto Morales Perez, HM Bigdad Relentless broke well from the gate, established the lead while clearing the gap and had enough left in the tank to reach the finish line a neck ahead of Jess Fire Up and jockey Jose Enriquez. The 3-year-old son of Big Daddy Cartel raced 400 yards on the fast main track in a time of 19.74 seconds.
HM Bigdad Relentless snapped a three-race losing streak with his victory in the NM Breeders Stakes. He was fourth in his most recent start (moved up to third via DQ) on Feb. 20 at Sunland Park. He broke his maiden last year over this course and now has two wins from six lifetime starts with earnings of more than $76,000.
Sent off as the 5.20-to-1 second choice in the eight-horse field, HM Bigdad Relentless returned $12.40 to his winning backers. The $2 exacta with Jess Fire Up paid back $140. Post time favorite Woodcutt finished third with The Ghan rounding out the top four finishers.
Racing resumes at SunRay Park on Friday with first post time set for 1:15 p.m. Sunday, quarter horses will be in the spotlight in the $75,000 La Plata Stakes, which will be run as the ninth race on the card. For more information, log on to equibase.com.