Racing


Wahene Version Slight Surprise Over Favorite Woodys Copy Cat in $85,000 Sunburst Stakes at Sunland
Wahene Version, under jockey Edgar Martinez, drives to victory in the restricted Grade 3 $85,000 Sunburst Stakes Saturday afternoon at Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino.

© Coady Photography
Wahene Version Slight Surprise Over Favorite Woodys Copy Cat in $85,000 Sunburst Stakes at Sunland

SUNLAND PARK, NM—APRIL 6, 2019—In her third start this season, Wahene Version (6-1) was speed all the way under jockey Edgar Martinez to defeat post-time favorite, the multiple stakes winner Woodys Copy Cat by half-a-length in the $85,000 Sunburst Stakes(RG3) Saturday afternoon at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino. First Theory V finished another half back in third.

Racing for owner Erick Carrillo and conditioned by trainer Beatriz Sanchez, Wahene Version covered the 350 yards in a sizzling :17.040 clocking, earning a 105 speed index with an 8 mph tailwind.

It was the second straight win for the daughter of multiple stakes sire Winners Version who opened the year at Sunland Park when she was disqualified from second to ninth after a rough start in a $28,100 optional claiming race January 12.

The winning connections of Wahene Version accept the Sunburst Stakes trophy Saturday afternoon at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino. © Coady Photography
Bred by Dirk Jones, the chestnut filly is out of the Brookstone Bay mare Wahene Kai. She has compiled a (10) 4-1-0 record and today's $51,000 winners' purse doubled her bankroll to $100,062.

Multiple graded winner Woodys Copy Cat up in a game effort under jockey Manuel Gutierrez, to finish second, banking $17,000 for her effort. Trainer Cynthia Gonzalez saddled Woodbridge filly for owner Enrique Barrera.

Bred by MJ Farms, from the Heza Fast Man mare Fast Copy Miss, Woodys Copy Cat has earned $286,294.

Valeriano Racing Stables LLC's homebred First Theory V earned $8,500 for third. Ricardo Armendariz conditions the Van Zant filly out of Perrys First by First Moonflash. J.R. Ramirez had the riding call aboard the earner of $49,990.

Vintage Vaquera, Zee James, Cambria Cartel, Fireball Flash, U Got The Look, Tooflashforyou and Cristobell Fame completed the Sunburst field.

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Live racing resumes on Sunday at 12:50 p.m. (MDT).