Page 170 - March_2022

RACING NEWS
West Texas Derby-G3
LETHAL AVENGER
by Michael Compton
Lethal Avenger ran his win streak to four with a dominating victory in the $172,203 West Texas Derby-G3 at Sunland Park on
Feb. 5. Winner of the La Fiesta Futurity at Albuquerque Downs last September, Lethal Avenger made his seasonal bow on Jan. 14, streaking to a 1 1/4-length score in his 400- yard trial heat. Judging by his powerful perfor- mance in the main event, the prep set him up perfectly for the encore.
Ridden in the West Texas Derby by regular pilot Noe Garcia Jr., who has been aboard the 3-year-old gelding in all nine career starts, Lethal Avenger broke sharply from the 10-gate in the 400-yard featured event. Challenged briefly by Throwin Sumoke, Lethal Avenger shrugged off the 19-1 longshot and won going away from that rival by 1 1/4-lengths to score at odds of 3-1. Race favorite and fastest quali- fier Muy Peligrosito finished third in a steady effort after getting squeezed at the start.
Sunland Park
$172,203 • 400 yards :19.273 • si 105
Volcom
si 97
Bred by: John Andreini Raced to 4 • $430,433 23-11(3)-3(1)-3(1)
394 f., 11 SW • $6,275,901
First Down Dash si 105
Bred by: A F Stanley Jr./ B F Phillips Jr.
Raced to 3 • $857,256 15-13(8)-1(1)-0
2,516 f., 258 SW • $89,720,590
Bred by: PK & Kim Thomas
Raced to 3 $255,017 9-5(2)-2-0
Runaway Vike si 97
Bred by: George D. Smith Raced to 3 • $8,898 13-2-3-1
21 f., 1 SW • $786,452
Lethal Class
si 88
Bred by: P K Thomas Raced to 3 • $151,075 14-3-2-3(1)
8 f., 1 SW • $316,527
Tres Seis si 97
Bred by: Mrs. Gwendolyn Eaves Raced to 3 • $856,901 12-6(1)-3(3)-3(1)
1,627 f., 61 SW • $25,937,645
Miss Lethal si 86
Bred by: P K Thomas Raced to 2 • $0 4-0-0-0
33 f., 2 SW • $1,604,765
168 SPEEDHORSE March 2022
Lethal Avenger wins the $172,203 West Texas Derby-G3 by 1 1/4-length.
Coady Photography
LETHAL AVENGER, ‘19-g.