Mojica leads strong field of seven to starting gate in $80,000 Jamison Memorial Stakes

SUNLAND PARK — Don S. Apodaca’s multiple stakes winning Mojica has been installed as the 8-5 morning line favorite for Monday’s 23rd running of the $80,000 Jamison Memorial Stakes at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino.

Trained by Filiberto Quiroz, Mojica is in search of his third straight win. With earnings of more than $281,000, the New Mexico-bred gelded son of Marking has won five of eight career starts including stakes scores in the New Mexico Classic Derby last November at Zia Park.

Prior to that win, Mojica also earned stakes wins in the Kendrick Memorial Stakes last spring at SunRay Park and Casino. He picked up his first career stakes win over this course last year in the Red Hedeman Mile. Mojica has won three times from four starts at Sunland Park, his most recent victory against allowance company on Jan. 12.

Bred by Apodaca, Mojica is out of the Attila’s Storm mare I Ten, a three-time winner from 12 starts. 

Jose Vazquez will be back aboard Mojica in the Jamison Memorial Stakes. The pair will break from post three in the 6 1-2 furlong event which will be run as the 8th race on a 10-race card that has a first post time of 12:25 p.m.

Breaking from the rail in the Jamison is 5-2 second choice Antonio’s Mark, owned by Andy A. Banegas and trained by Dominic Duree.

The 6-year-old gelding is a nine-time winner and earner of more than $539,000. He rattled off four straight wins last fall, including stakes triumphs in the Rocky Gulch New Mexico Classic Stakes at Zia Park, as well as the O.D. McDonald Stakes and Casey Darnell Stakes at Albuquerque Downs.

Antonio’s Mark was bred in New Mexico by Fred Alexander and will be ridden once again by Alfredo Juarez, Jr.

The Jamison Stakes is the first of two stakes races on Monday’s all-thoroughbred program. The ninth race of the day is the $65,000 Winsham Lad Stakes.

The field, with morning line odds and riders for the Jamison:

1- Antonios Mark (5-2) Alfredo Juarez, Jr.

2- Ar Ya Weegee (6-1) Tracy Hebert 

3- Mojica (8-5) Jose Vazquez 

4- Marking Canyon (9-2) Aldo Arboleda 

5- Probate (20-1) Luis Negron 

6- Dave’s Enchantment (10-1) Francisco Amparan  7- Holy Hank (6-1) Christian Ramos