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The final prep races for the March 22 Sunland Derby and Sunland Oaks took place Sunday at Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino with the Mine That Bird Derby and the Island Fashion Stakes. Here is a look at how the races turned out.
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Mine That Bird Derby
Sir Rick entered the 1 and 1/16th miles race with plenty of momentum after winning by more than five lengths in his last outing at Sam Houston Park last month.
The momentum carried over for the 3-year-old Kentucky-bred colt as he won the $100,000 race for 3-year-old thoroughbreds.
Sir Rick was on or near the lead for the entire race, then at the top of the stretch, he showed an extra gear and pulled away from Top Draw to win by four lengths for winning trainer Robertino Diodoro and local jockey Francisco Arrieta. The winning time was 1:44.23. Sir Rick was the 8-5 post time favorite.
Sir Rick has won four of six career starts, but it was the first time Arrieta had been aboard him.
'He got off to a good start, he relaxed and when I asked more of him, he responded,' said the Venezuelan born Arrieta, who is the leading jockey at Sunland Park. 'Just a great horse, he had plenty left at the end. I was grateful to get the chance to ride him. I don't know if he'll come back for the Sunland Derby, but he's a great horse with lots of potential.'
Top Draw ran a good second for local trainer Miguel Hernandez and Stackin Silver was third.
Island Fashion Stakes
Trainer Justin Evans and owner Mark Dyer have a history of success together and in Sunday the two teamed up for one of their biggest days together in winning the $75,000 race for 3-year-old fillies with Shanghai Keely.
Next up will likely be the Sunland Oaks on March 22, which is a prep race for the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on the first Friday in May.
Shanghai Keely, who went off at odds of 5-1, won the race in 1:39.00. Jimmy Ray Coates was the winning jockey. She earned her second career win from seven starts. Shanghai Keely was behind the leaders for a good portion of the race then began to move forward at the midway point. Then at the stretch, she took the lead and held on for the win. She returned $12.60 to win.
Brave Cinderella, who is also trained by Evans and owned by Dyer, was second with jockey Roimes Chirinos. Brave Cinderella came from off the pace and nearly passed her stablemate in an exciting stretch duel. Post time favorite Dynasty of Her Own led for a portion of the race but tired and finished third. Dyer claimed both horses last month from California and sent them to Evans’ barn.
'Shanghai Keely really ran her heart out,' said Evans, who has won six of the past seven thoroughbred training titles at Sunland Park. 'Jimmy did a great job aboard her and he's riding really well. Brave Cinderella made a great run and showed lots of determination. Now we have a chance to work a bit more with both horses and get them ready for next month. Mark is a great owner and he invests so much into this sport and it's great to see him repaid with a win like this. He loves the sport and has such great enthusiasm. We've worked together with such greats as Our Choice and Nuggets Please.'
Added Dyer: 'Justin is a fantastic trainer and I couldn't be happier with the job that he did. Brave Cinderella ran in a $12,500 claiming race and we got the horse and brought it to Justin and look how she ran in this race. Just an exciting race for the whole team.'
Runaway Ghost
Runaway Ghost, who won the 2018 Sunland Derby, won a 6 and 1/2 furlong allowance optional claiming race on Sunday. Runaway Ghost was making his second start of the Sunland Park meet after a seven-month layoff. He finished second in the six furlong Fort Bliss Stakes last month.
Runaway Ghost won Sunday's race in 1:16.28 for jockey Elvin Gonzalez and trainer Todd Fincher. Runaway Ghost has won eight of 14 career starts and six of eight starts at the Sunland Park track. He also won last year's Sunland Park Handicap.
Other Sunday stakes winners
* Blazing Navarone won the 1 and 1/16th miles Albert and Henry Dominguez Handicap for trainer Martin M. Valdez-Cabral, Jr. and jockey Ry Eikleberry. Blazing Navarone has won 12 of 25 starts. The race was for New Mexico breds.
* In his fourth start, Effort N Results won the Red Hedeman Mile for New Mexico breds. Effort N Results has won twice in his career. Ken Tohill was the winning jockey and Joel Marr trains.
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More: Francisco Arrieta emerges as star jockey at Sunland Park
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Felix F. Chavez may be reached at 915-546-6167; fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezeptimes on Twitter.
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This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino: Sir Rick wins Mine That Bird Derby