Sunland Ends Meet on High Note

Sunland Ends Meet on High Note
Date Posted: 4/13/2004 4:43:44 PM

Sunland Park closed out its 2003-2004 season April 11 on a high note, with across the board increases, including establishing a new record for total amount handled in one day ($2,194,229) on Feb. 3. The track also established a record of 21 days where more than $1 million was handled.

The 80-day meet handled a total of $70,553,815 of which $21,751,763 came from on-track, a 16% increase over last year, and $48,802,052 was off track, up 43% over last year. Last year, the track handled a total of $54,811,382.

Trainer Steve Asmussen took leading trainer honors by saddling 53 winners. Jockeys Casey Lambert and Ken Tohill tied for leading rider honors with 69 winners.

Asmussen also was the leading owner of the meet. Pierre and Leslie Amestoy, owners of Lobo Farm near Lexington and also campaign Thoroughbreds, took the leading Quarter Horse owner title.

WinStar Derby winner Hi Teck Man was named horse of the meet and champion 3-year-old colt or gelding. Hi Teck Man is trained by Johnnie Nall and was owned and bred by Hassel Spraberry.

Ciento was named the leading handicap horse and champion New Mexico-bred champion. Ciento is trained by Dick Cappellucci for owners Arden Hawkins and Glen Robertson.

Big Score was named champion older filly or mare and champion filly sprinter. She is trained by Asmussen for Grunwald Racing.

Shemoveslikeaghost was named the champion New Mexico-bred older filly or mare. Fred Danley trains the filly for William Stradley.

A to the Z was the champion distance horse. Gerald Marr conditions the colt for Susan Ray.

Bang earned champion sprinter honors for trainer Eric Kruljac and owner William Hendrick.

Rocky Gulch was named the champion New Mexico-bred 3-year-old male. Terry Walker conditions Rocky Gulch for Larry Teague.

Speedy Falcon, winner of the WinStar Sunland Park Oaks, was named champion 3-year-old filly. Henry Dominguez conditions the filly for Chris Coleman.

Icy Lane was named the champion New Mexico-bred 3-year-old filly. Jimmy Claridge conditions Icy Lane for D M Cattle Co.

Tin Can Sailor was named champion 2-year-old male. Joel Marr conditions Tin Can Sailor for Sam Britt.

Oso Tricky was named the champion 2-year-old New Mexico bred male. Oso Tricky is conditioned by Ray Ashford Jr. for Danny Stafford and Steve Usherwood.

Homemaker was named the champion 2-year-old filly. William Leach conditions Homemaker for William Clifton Jr.

Piedra Peak Lad was named the champion claimer. Dick Cappullelluci conditions Piedra Peak Lad for Richard Marchiando.

Restless Kid was named the champion filly or mare claimer. Ramon Gonazlez conditions Restless Kid for a partnership between himself and Jose Rivera.

SUBSCRIBE to The Blood-Horse magazine TODAY!