Field of six headed to starting gate in New Mexico State University Stakes
SUNLAND PARK — Closing day of the Sunland Park and Casino features a number of stakes races, including the 23rd running of the $100,000 New Mexico State University Stakes which will be run as the sixth race of a 12-race thoroughbred program.
Marking Canyon (pictured above), recent winner of the Albert and Henry Dominguez Memorial Stakes last time out, will face off against New Mexico’s all time leading thoroughbred money earner Corrina Corrina in the 1 mile and 70 yard affair.
Trained by Leroy Fincher and owned by Leroy and Maureen Fincher, Marking Canyon raced to a 1 3-4 length win in the Dominguez Memorial Stakes under Aldo Arboleda, who will be back aboard the son of Marking when they break from the rail in the compact 6-horse field.
Marking Canyon has won seven times from 24 career starts and has earned more than $470,000 and is the 9-to-5 second choice on the morning line.
Corrina Corrina will be looking to end a two-race losing streak when she reaches the starting gate for trainer Gary Cross and jockey Tracy Hebert in the NMSU Stakes. The 7-year-old daughter of Mr. Trieste has won 22 times from 44 starts and has earned more than $1,549,000 for owner Derrick Jenkins.Both her win total and career earnings rank first for New Mexico-bred thoroughbreds.
Listed as the morning line favorite at 7-to-5, Corrina Corrina will break from post five in the NMSU Stakes.
Also featured on the closing day program are the 25th running of the $175,000 Mine That Bird Derby and the 65th running of the $250,000 Casa Ford Sunland Park Handicap. First post time for the 12-race card is 12:25 p.m.
The field for the $100,000 New Mexico State University Stakes, with morning line odds and riders:
1 MARKING CANYON (9/5) Aldo Arboleda
2 HOLY HANK (10-1) Christian Ramos
3 I THINK I’M HERE (5-1) Alfredo Sigala
4 ANTONIOS MARK (9/2) Alfredo Juarez, Jr.
5 CORRINA CORRINA (7/5) Tracy Hebert
6 SAPELLO RIDDLER (20-1) Erick Medellin