Page 155 - March 2020

Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap-RG2
DJS WINNER
by Danny Camp
The horse with the least amount of life- time earnings cashed the biggest check in the $100,000 Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap-RG2 at Sunland Park on Feb. 22.
DJS Winner lined up against a field of mostly boys and took them to school. She was up against leading money earners of up to $473,000.She didn’t get the best start, break- ing from the outside post mid-pact. But with grit and determination, the four-year-old bay filly dug in to get the win.
Jockey Noe Garcia Jr., who had been aboard the filly in her previous three starts, offered steady encouragement throughout the 350-yard contest.
DJS Winner was in fourth at the first call and she had a neck lead as the field hit the top of the stretch. She held on to that margin and crossed the wire first by a neck in :17.269, earning a 96 speed index.
DJS Winner brought home the $60,000 winner’s share of the purse, boosting her
total lifetime earnings to $124,660. Her race record is now 13-4(1)-0-3(1). The filly finished third in the Lou Wooten/Sydney Valentini Handicap in her out just prior to her victory
in the Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap-RG2. DJS Winner also finished fifth in the 2019 Zia
Derby-RG2. Her additional victories came in an allow- ance race at Zia Park and a maiden at Ruidoso Downs.
Double Eagle Ranch is the breeder and owner of DJS Winner. Toby Keeton conditions the filly.
Double Eagle Ranch
bred DJS Winner out of
two-time Thoroughbred winner Salt N Sea. The mare has produced 100% money earners from three starters. DJS Winner is her first stakes winner and top money earner.
“Assistant trainer Charlie Robinson gets along good with this filly,” said Keeton.
“The filly can be ornery at times, but Charlie tends to business,” Keeton contin- ued. “When DJS Winner steps up on the track, she is all business. We are not afraid to run against the boys.”
When asked about her future, Keeton said, “I think we will rest her a bit and listen to what she says about running again. After El Paso, we will turn her out and then we have Albuquerque and Hobbs in our sights.”
Woodys Copy Cat (Woodbridge-Fast Copy Miss) broke hard and ran a steady and
even race under L. Martinez to pocket second place money for owner Enrique Barrera
and trainer Cynthia Gonzalez. Woodys Copy Cat won the $315,450 New Mexico Classic Futurity-G2 in 2018, and was second or third in multiple graded stakes races.
Marcus Medallion (Jesse James Jr-Houstons Medallion) and Adrian
Ramos finished in third place for owner Kevin Perez and trainer Clifford Graham II. Marcus Medallion won three stakes races in 2019 in the First Moonflash Maturity, Zia Handicap and Dona Ana County Handicap.
CD Mamas Boy (First Moonflash-Mama Rosa B) finished in fourth place and was followed across the line by Cat Daddys Lil Girl (Big Daddy Cartel-Girlonthego), Rime Chimes (Sign To Be A Runaway-Rime
Has A Chick), Magnifico Dragon (Zulu Dragon-Cassies Mag), No Mires A La Luna (First Moonflash-Dont Look Ethel), Jess A Satin Flash (First Moonflash-Jess Satin) and Freedom Flash (First Moonflash-Mi Camila TB). Hollywoodcrown and Jess To Reel were both scratched.
Sunland Park $100,000 • 350 yards :17.269 • si 96
Holland Ease
Winners Version
The Jubilee Diamond
DJS WINNER, ‘16-f.
Gone Hollywood
Salt N Sea TB
Salaria
DJS Winner and Noe Garcia Jr. score a neck victory in the $100,000 Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap-RG2
SPEEDHORSE March 2020 153
RACING NEWS
Coady Photography