Holy Hank proves best in Casino at the Downs Derby
Jockey Luis Valenzuela and Holy Hank earned a hard-fought win in Sunday’s $75,000 Casino at the Downs Thoroughbred Derby, capturing the race by 1 1/4 lengths.
The New Mexico-bred son of Holy Lute was always in attendance of the early lead, set by Mojica and jockey Jose Vazquez, who had a half-length advantage of his rivals after the opening half mile.
Around the far turn, Holy Hank and Mojica put some distance on their rivals and pitched a spirited battle into the stretch. Valenzuela urged Holy Hank to reach the finish line ahead of fast-closing longshot Sapello Riddler for the win, stopping the clock in a final time of 1 minute, 39.18 seconds for the one-mile trip.
Owned and bred by Robert M. Driggers, Del Rae Driggers and Ben Lee Ivey and trained by Simon Buechler, Holy Hank picked up his second consecutive win on Sunday and earned his sixth career stakes victory in the process. Last time out, on Aug. 3, the 3-year-old gelding was victorious in the $53,000-added Rod Gallaway Thoroughbred Derby at Wyoming Downs.
The win in the Casino at the Downs TB Derby is the eighth trip to the winners circle from 13 career starts for Holy Hank, who now has earnings of more than $532,000. He also owns stakes victories this year in the Corralito Steak House Stakes as well as the New Mexico Breeders Derby at Sunland Park.
As a 2-year-old, Holy Hank won both the New Mexico State Fair Thoroughbred Futurity at Albuquerque Downs as well as the New Mexico Classic Juvenile Stakes at Zia Park.
Holy Hank, out of the Gotham City mare City Veil, returned $3.40 as the overwhelming post time favorite in the seven-horse field. The $2 exacta with Sapello Riddler, who was sent off at odds of nearly 38-to-1, returned $109.60. Gesara finished third with Mojica tiring late and rounding out the top four finishers.