ALBUQUERQUE – Jockey Alfredo Juarez, Jr. and post time favorite Speed Merchant spurted clear in the final furlong to score a convincing win in Sunday’s $75,000 Road Runner Stakes at Albuquerque Downs.
Trained by Todd Fincher for Dale F. Taylor Racing, LLC, Speed Merchant was always within close attendance down the backstretch while Hold My Scotch held a slim advantage. Around the far turn, Speed Merchant and Vanishing Money raced alongside the leader before reaching the top of the stretch.
Speed Merchant dueled briefly with Vanishing Money before edging clear in deep stretch, reaching the finish line three lengths ahead of the field, stopping the timer in 1 minute, 4.18 seconds for 5 1/2 furlongs.
Bred in New Mexico by Brad King & Chris Coleman, the son of Marking picked up his sixth win from eight career starts and remains perfect in four starts at Albuquerque Downs.
In addition to his win in the Road Runner Stakes, Speed Merchant also owns stakes victories in the Corralito Steak House Stakes at Sunland Park, as well as Hobbs Fall Classic at Zia Park and the New Mexico State Fair Futurity over this course. Sunday’s win improves his lifetime earnings to more than $380,000.
Sent off at odds of 3-to-10, Speed Merchant was a popular winner, returning $2.60 to his winning backers. Vanishing Money held on for the place, completing a $2 exacta that paid back $5. Driving Money settled for third with Reads Artful Run rounding out the top four finishers.
Silver Twilight was scratched earlier in the day, leaving the Road Runner Stakes with a five-horse field.
Sunday, a pair of stakes races will take place for 2-year-old New Mexico-bred thoroughbreds. The $75,000 Rio Grande Senorita and the $75,000 Rio Grande Senor headline a 10-race program which opens at 1:30 p.m.