Antonios Mark rallies late to capture Rocky Gulch New Mexico Classic
HOBBS – Antonios Mark rallied along the rail in deep stretch under jockey Alfredo Juarez, Jr. to capture a thrilling edition of the $200,000 Rocky Gulch New Mexico Classic on Monday at Zia Park.
Owned by Andy Banegas and trained by Dominic Duree, Antonios Mark saved ground from his inside post and raced midpack down the backstretch through an opening half-mile of 47.83 seconds. Post time favorite Let Him Be took command of the field at the head of the lane before Juarez found another gear under the 5-year-old son of Marking, getting up in the final strides along the rail to win by a neck in a final time of 1 minute, 44.98 seconds over a fast track.
Bred in New Mexico by Fred Alexander, Antonios Mark has now won four straight races, including stakes victories in the OD McDonald Stakes and Casey Darnell Stakes last month at Albuquerque Downs. Monday’s win brings his lifetime record to nine wins from 30 starts and earnings surpassing $533,000.
Antonios Mark is out of the Lawyer Ron mare Bekat Bekat. The damsire was a multiple Grade 1 stakes winner with earnings of nearly $2.8 million on the track.
Sent off at odds of 3.20-to-1, Antonios Mark returned $8.40 to his winning backers. Let Him Be, the 1-to-2 post time favorite under Miguel Fuentes, Jr., was a clear second best, prompting a $30.80 payoff on a $2 exacta wager.