Evans holds strong hand in Inaugural

Trainer Justin Evans figures to be plenty busy -- once again -- during the live racing season at SunRay Park and Casino.

One of the leading thoroughbred trainers in America, Evans has dominated the southwest region, winning multiple titles at some of the area's most rigorous and demanding racing seasons, including the most recently concluded Sunland Park season.

Evans will be a force to be reckoned with this season at SunRay, and no more indication of that is needed once you see the multiple threats he is likely to send out in Saturday's $30,000 Inaugural Handicap at SunRay.

Redneck Humor, recent winner of both the Bill Thomas Memorial and Budweiser Handicaps at Sunland this past season, is the 4-to-5 morning line favorite in Saturday's 6 1/2 furlong featured event. 

An earner of more than $323,000 while racking up ten wins from his 24-race career, Redneck Humor will be looking to win the Inaugural for the second consecutive year. The 6-year-old, Florida-bred son of Da Stoops defeated his stablemate Alsono in winning this race last year, his only win in three lifetime starts at SunRay.

"He's training great," Evans said. "You have to keep him happy. He ran so great in the last couple races, and hope he'll show his 'A" game on Saturday."  

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Redneck Humor is scheduled to be ridden by Miguel Perez, who was aboard for both of his most recent wins, and is drawn in post position 4 in the Inaugural, which will go as the eighth of a nine-race card that has a first post time of 1:15 p.m. (MTN)

Evans is also scheduled to send out 2-to-1 second choice Toews On Ice, who is still looking to find his best form since arriving to New Mexico last fall.

A six-time winner and earner of more than $378,000, Toews On Ice has scored only one win from five trips to post since coming to New Mexico last fall after a steady campaign in which the son of Archarcharch racked up victories at Churchill Downs, Santa Anita, Del Mar and twice at Los Alamitos Race Course.

In his most recent starts, Toews On Ice was beaten by Redneck Humor in both the Bill Thomas Handicap and Budweiser Handicap. Prior to that, he beat optional claiming company at Sunland Park on Jan. 20.

Toews On Ice, a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred, will be making his SunRay Park debut in the Inaugural and will break from post position 2 under the guidance of jockey Ameth Gonzalez.

"I'll be happy to see how he gets a hold of the track," Evans said. "He didn't care for Zia, but ran well in a couple races at Sunland. I'll be excited to see his results of SunRay." 

Evans is also scheduled to send out 12-to-1 longshot Fusaichi Samurai, who will break from the inside post under jockey Roimes Chirinos, as well as Real Heat with jockey Alfredo Juarez, Jr. aboard. 

Juarez wrapped up another solid season at Sunland, finishing second in the thoroughbred jockey standings behind Ry Eikelberry. Juarez and Real Heat are slated to break from post 5 and are listed at 6-to-1 on the morning line.

Trainers Owen Bringhurst and Todd Fincher also come into the Inaugural with contenders. 

Deputy's Echo, who has finished second in each of his two starts over the course, is listed at 15-to-1 on the morning line for veteran conditioner Bringhurst, who employs Enrique Gomez to ride from post position 3. 

An earner of more than $114,000 while a three-time winner from 15 starts, Deputy's Echo will be looking to snap a four-race losing streak, including a third place finish behind Toews On Ice earlier this year.

Pain and Misery hasn't raced since finishing a well-beaten fourth last summer in an optional claiming route race at Remington Park in Oklahoma City.

Now in the barn of one of the region's most active trainers, Pain and Misery will also be making his career debut at SunRay. He is scheduled to be ridden by Tracy Hebert and will break from the outside post.

Post time for the Inaugural Handicap is scheduled for 4:03 p.m.  

Photos courtesy of Coady Photography

Jm Country Man prevails in Animas

Jockey Mauro Salcedo, fresh off a spectacular season finishing second in the quarter horse jockey standings at Sunland Park, made a very big impression on opening day at SunRay on Friday, scoring a dramatic photo finish victory aboard Jm Country Man in the $25,650 Animas Quarter Horse Stakes.

Rallying between horses in the middle of the racetrack, Jm Country Man was inching clear of his rivals at the wire, winning by a neck over Highest Return.

Salcedo, who also scored a win on the opening day program aboard longshot Fire Thorn earlier in the day, also for trainer Cynthia Gonzalez, is looking to remain hot this season after a strong 24-win season, just two shy of Esgar Ramirez atop the standings at the recently concluded season near El Paso, Texas.

Jm Country Man is now a multiple stakes winner with earnings topping $144,000. Last September, the Arkansas-bred son of Mr Jess Perry scored an upset win in the La Fiesta Futurity at the Downs at Albuquerque. Owned by J and M Racing and Farm, Jm Country Man has now won three straight races.

Sent off as the 13-to-10 favorite in the Animas, Jm Country Man returned $4.60 to his winning backers while racing the 400 yards in a time of 19.57 seconds.

Highest Return, ridden by Ruben Calderon, battled for the lead throughout the length of the stretch and was unlucky to just miss, finishing a head in front of Mahoney N Tacklebery with Kick Some Dash finishing fourth.

On a windy day to kick off the 2017 SunRay season, outside lanes appeared to have an advantage on a day of all quarter horse racing. Saturday's card is a mix of both shortliners and thoroughbreds, so it would be unwise to assume any sort of track bias at this point, but handicappers would be advised to see if that trend continues this weekend.

In addition to Salcedo's pair of wins, Jose Luis Enriquez and Oscar Cordova also booted home a pair of winners.

Gonzalez and trainer Judy Bachicha saddled a pair of winners on the card as well.

Photos courtesy of Coady Photography