Racing


Djs Winners Scores First Stakes Victory In Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap
Djs Winner (#10) holds off Woodys Copy Cat (#8) and Marcus Medallion (#6) to win the $100,000 Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap Saturday afternoon at Sunland Park Race Track & Casino.

© Coady Photography
Djs Winners Scores First Stakes Victory In Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap

SUNLAND PARK, NM—FEBRUARY 22, 2020—DJs Winner held off Woodys Copy Cat by a neck to get her first career stakes win in the $100,000 restricted Grade 2 Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap Saturday afternoon at Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino.

Ridden by jockey Noe Garcia, Jr., Djs Winners completed the 350 yards in :17.269 seconds, equaling a 96 speed index over a fast race course. It was the fourth career win for the 4-year-old daughter of multiple stakes sire Winners Version. The $60,000 winner's purse doubled her career earnings total to $124,660.

Toby Keeton saddled the bay filly for owner-breeder Double Eagle Ranch. Djs Winner is from the Gone Hollywood Thoroughbred mare Salt N Sea. She entered the Mesilla Valley off a third-place effort in the Lou Wooten and Sydney Valentini Handicap(RG2) in her last start, January 11th.

The winning connections of Djs Winner accept the Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap stakes trophy Saturday afternoon at Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino.
© Coady Photography
Graded stakes winner Woodys Copy Cat earned $20,000 for her runner-up effort. Cynthia Gonzalez trains the 4-year-old Woodbridge filly for owner Enrique Barrera. Bred by MJ Farms, from the Heza Fast Man mare Fast Copy Miss, Woodys Copy Cat has earned $370,928. Everardo Rodriguez had the riding call.

Marcus Medallion, a 7-year-old son of Jesse James Jr, finished a nose back in the blanket finish to pick up $10,000 for owner Kevin Perez. The stakes winning gelding conditioned by Clifford Graham, II has banked more than $280,000. Adrian Ramos was aboard the gelding out of Houstons Medallion by Mr Houston. Carl Jason Bailey is the breeder.

Cds Mamas Boy, Cad Daddys Lil Girl, Rime Chimes, Magnifico Dragon, No Mires A La Luna, Jess A Satin Finish and Freedom Flash completed the field.

Live racing resumes on Sunday with a stupendous card at 1 p.m. (MDT). The $100,000 Mine That Bird Derby, $100,000 Red Hedeman Mile, $100,000 Albert and Henry Dominguez Handicap and $75,000 Island Fashion Stakes are on tap. The Mine That Bird Derby is the final local prep race for the $700,000 Sunland Derby (Gr. III) to be run on Sunday, March 22.

* * * * * * * * * *

ABOUT SUNLAND PARK RACETRACK & CASINO: The Park is the premier horse racing & gaming destination in New Mexico, and is located in the El Paso, Texas metropolitan area. The facility is known for its events and live entertainment, as well as a state-of-the-art horse track, sensational casino floor, incredible restaurants, new hotel, and superior customer service. More information is available at: sunlandpark.com.