Speed Merchant bursts clear in $100,000 Hobbs Fall Classic Stakes
HOBBS – Dale F. Taylor Racing LLC’s Speed Merchant made short work of his five rivals in Tuesday’s $100,000 Hobbs Fall Classic Stakes at Zia Park, drawing off to win by nine lengths under jockey Luis Valenzuela.
Speed Merchant, trained by Todd Fincher and bred in New Mexico by Brad King & Chris Coleman, dueled for the early lead through a quick half-mile of 44.77 seconds. As the field turned for home, the son of Marking took command, quickly edging clear of his rivals and drawing away as he reached the finish line in a time of 1 minute, 15.97 seconds for 6 1/2 furlongs on a fast track.
Fincher saddled five of the six runners in the Hobbs Fall Classic including each of the top three finishers. The field size of the race was reduced after a pair of scratches from the race. Bully Boy was scratched earlier in the day, as was Fort Sumner.
Speed Merchant has now won four times from five career starts. He won the New Mexico State Fair Thoroughbred Futurity at Albuquerque Downs last October, narrowly defeating stablemate Bully Boy before those results were flipped in the New Mexico Classic Thoroughbred Futurity over this course last time out. Tuesday’s win pads his career bankroll to more than $267,000.
Sent off as the overwhelming favorite at odds of 1-to-5, Speed Merchant returned $2.40 to his winning backers. The $2 exacta with Cash Waterfall paid back $9.40. Buy Local finished third with Cowboy Campfire, trained by Greg Green, rounded out the top four finishers.