Redneck Humor, African Rose prevail at Sunland

Redneck Humor blasted away from the gates and never let up on the accelerator in route to a track record setting victory in the $75,000 Budweiser Handicap at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino on Sunday.

 

With an aggressive ride from Miguel Perez, Redneck Humor was able to make every pole a winning one while taking the steam out of an elite field of sprinters going 6 furlongs. Last season’s Bill Thomas Memorial Handicap winner was brilliant once again winning by over 4 lengths and stopping the clock in 1:07.42, breaking the fresh track record set by Surf N Ski of 1:07.50 on January 14.

 

Racing at 3-1 odds, Redneck Humor rattled through fractions of 21.43 and 43.28 seconds for the first two points of call. Despite the pressured pace, the 6-year-old son of Da Stoop kept on firing through the lane and won impressively. Justin Evans trains the multiple stakes winner of over $263,000. Redneck Humor earned $45,000 on Sunday for owners Vanessa Evans, Earl Nuegebauer and K.W. Sharp.

 

Evans also saddled the second and fourth place finishers with Toews On ice and Flashy Indian. All three of his runners could return in the $100,000 Bill Thomas Memorial Handicap at Sunland Derby (Gr. III) day – Sunday, March 26. The all Justin Evans exacta paid $41 on a $2 ticket.

 

Indexical finished third after racing 6-wide on the far turn. Surf N Ski did not break alertly and was never a factor. He and jockey Ken Tohill finished fifth.

 

 

Eight-year-old distaff sensation African Rose put on a bravura performance to win the $75,000 El Diario Handicap going 6 and one-half furlongs. The Bwana Charlie mare continues to show her affection for Sunland Park as she won for the 18th time in 42 starts. Red hot jockey Miguel Perez won both stakes races on the card as African Rose pulled well clear in the final furlong to win by one and one-half lengths. The multiple stakes winner pounced on the pace setters on the far turn and grabbed the lead at the half mile marker. From then on, Perez kept his mount rolling, and she was untouchable.

 

The winner caught the distance in a fast 1:14.99 through some very windy conditions. African Rose earned $45,000 for the Judge Lanier Racing Stable. Miguel Hernandez is the winning trainer. African Rose is a 3-time winner of the Harry Henson Handicap and won the 2016 Bold Ego Handicap. The 2-1 second favorite paid $6.20 to win. Her career bankroll swells to nearly $574,000.

 

6-5 favorite K P Wildcat found her best strides too late and finished a fast closing second. Under Roimes Chirinos, last year’s winner of the Island Fashion Stakes had the maneuver through traffic while closing with interest. The runner-up finished a half-length in front of New Mexico State Racing Commission Handicap winner Bryn’s Fancy Pants.

 

 

Live racing resumes on Tuesday at 12:45 p.m. A post time change occurs on Friday, February 17 with a new start time of 1:30 p.m.

 

Sunland Park race replays can be seen on You Tube at “Sunland Park RacetrackCasino.”


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