ALBUQUERQUE -- Citizen Geller, a homebred 5-year-old gelding racing for Larry and Denise Nichols’ UKUSA Stables of El Paso, Texas, scored a half-length victory in Saturday’s $70,000 Casey Darnell Stakes at Albuquerque Downs.
Ridden by Miguel Perez for trainer Justin Evans, Citizen Geller went 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:02.43 while extending his winning streak to three and earning his second stakes victory of the meet. The $42,000 winner’s share of the purse increased the gray or roan son of Pro Prado’s bankroll to $299,444.
Citizen Geller’s win streak began with an allowance victory at Sunland Park on March 26 and includes a 2 1/2-length win in the 7-furlong, $70,000 O.D. McDonald Stakes (R) at Albuquerque Downs on June 24. All told, the gelding has won eight of 31 starts, including four of eight at Albuquerque, and he has won four stakes.
Stormin The Jewels finished second and was followed by Raider Red, Wyatt, Me Darlin Rod, Joker’s Touch, and Desert Mystery.
Contested annually at Albuquerque Downs, the Casey Darnell Stakes honors the memory of the late Clarence Ellsworth “Casey” Darnell, a longtime New Mexico horseman who died in 2001. Working from his Alamo Farm near Corrales, the versatile trainer won 500 Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse races, and he also trained performance horses in multiple events. Darnell was inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in ’09.
NOTES FROM THE DOWNS: The Downs will return to its regular schedule on Wednesday, September 20 (first post time, 6:05), and offer live racing on Friday, September 22 (6:05), Saturday, September 23 (6:05), and closing day, Sunday, September 24 (1:30).
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HOBBS -- Once Over, ridden by Raul Herrera for trainer Jose Luis Mrquez, rallied in the final yards to prevail in a driving finish to capture Sunday's $50,000 James Isaac Hobbs Stakes at Zia Park and Casino.
Once Over, owned Jaime Bujanda and bred in California by Ed Allred, took the lead in the final yards between early leader Tf Im That Guy and put his head down in front of fast-closing Don Quixote, notching his second straight win and ninth from 30 career starts.
An 8-year-old gelded son of Walk Thru Fire, Once Over has been a model of consistency since returning from a long layoff early in 2016. In six starts through the past 17 months, Once Over has won four times, including his richest score in the 2016 West Texas Maturity at Sunland Park.
Sent off at odds of 4.30-to-1, Once Over returned $10.60 while running the 350 yards in 17.69 seconds.