Sure Hit earns fastest qualifying time for Shue Fly Stakes
SUNLAND PARK – Trainer Clinton Crawford will saddle the fastest qualifier for the Jan. 31 Shue Fly Stakes after trials were held for the Grade 2 event Saturday at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino.
Sure Hit, owned by Chris Lykins, Conda Maze and Downtime Enterprises LLC, earned the top spot by winning the fifth and final trial heat under jockey Jacob Enriquez. The gelding covered 400 yards in 19.65 seconds, finishing 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Beyond Big Daddy, who also earned a spot in the starting gate for the restricted Grade 2 test.
A 3-year-old son of Jet Black Patriot, Sure Hit is still searching for his first career stakes win after qualifying for three previous finals. His best effort to date was a third-place finish in last year’s $216,116 New Mexico Breeders Futurity at SunRay Park and Casino.
Saturday’s trial victory improves Sure Hit’s career mark to four wins from eight starts, with lifetime earnings of more than $96,000.
Three other starters in the fifth trial heat also qualified for the Shue Fly. Third place finisher McKinlay, as well as Jess A Moon Girl and Daddys Bullet earned final times among the 10 fastest of the day.
Pour Me A Drinkk picked up his third straight win and the role of second-fastest qualifier for the Shue Fly, racing to a 3/4 length win in the fourth trial heat under jockey James Flores, crossing the finish line in a time of 19.66 seconds, just ahead of runnerup Jet Black Eagles, who also earned a spot in the starting gate for the finals.
Bred and trained by Fred Danley and owned by Danley and Bob McClure, Pour Me A Drinkk most recently won the New Mexico Classic QH Futurity on Nov. 25 at Zia Park. The son of Prospect to the Top has won four times from seven career starts and has amassed earnings topping $191,000.
For a complete list of qualifiers for the Shue Fly Stakes, which will be run for a purse of more than $190,000, visit stallionesearch.com.