Mo Money Time springs upset over Corrina Corrina in $80,000 New Mexico State Racing Commission Stakes
SUNLAND PARK – Mo Money Time earned the first stakes win of her career Sunday afternoon at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino, proving much the best at odds of more than 11-to-1 in the 25th running of the $80,000 New Mexico State Racing Commission Stakes under jockey Alfredo Juarez, Jr.
The 4-year-old filly broke alertly from the starting gate and was forwardly placed throughout, edging ahead of her rivals at the top of the lane of the 6 1-2 furlong journey. Mo Money Time was never seriously challenged in deep stretch, winning by 1 3-4 lengths in a time of 1 minute, 3.38 seconds.
Trained by Bart Hone for owner/breeder Brian Mundell, Mo Money Time is by Conquest Mo Money, a two-time stakes winner at Sunland Park in 2017 with victories in the Mine That Bird Derby and Riley Allison Stakes, as well as a second place in the Grade 3 Sunland Derby. Mo Money Time is out of the Elusive Jazz mare My Bikini Fell Off, a three-time stakes winner and earner of more than $400,000 during her racing career.
Mo Money Time picked up her fourth win from nine career starts and has now amassed earnings of more than $161,000. She has won three of her last four starts. The win capped off a sweep of the Sunday stakes races for Juarez, Jr., who also guided Dean’s List to victory in the $65,000 KLAQ Stakes.
Corrina Corrina, the prohibitive post time favorite and New Mexico’s all-time leading thoroughbred in both wins and earnings, was far back of the pace early and rallied late to finish second under Tracy Hebert for trainer Gray Cross. The loss snapped a two-race win streak for Corrina Corrina, who was also in search of her third consecutive victory in the New Mexico State Racing Commission Stakes.
Sent off at odds of 11.70-to-1, Mo Money Time returned $25.40 to her winning backers. The $2 exacta with Corrina Corrina paid $52.60. Arizona Bred Diamante Elegante, who is paid into the NM-AZ program to be eligible to run in NM Bred races, finished third, narrowly ahead of Right For You in the order of finish. First Again was scratched from the race earlier in the day, reducing the race to a field of nine starters.