Corrina Corrina moved into second place on the all-time earnings list among New Mexico-bred Thoroughbreds on Monday, when she closed from last to capture the $150,000 Distaff Sprint on the New Mexico Cup card at Zia Park.
The race was among seven stakes on the card, and the New Mexico-bred offerings were worth a total of $1.1 million.
Corrina Corrina ($2.20) rallied through the stretch to get up for a three-quarter-length win over First Again in the Distaff Sprint at six furlongs. The winner covered the distance in 1:09.74 on a fast track and was one of three stakes winners on the card for her regular rider, Tracy Hebert.
Corrina Corrina picked up $90,000 to push her career earnings to $1,098,560. She was third on the state’s leaderboard for Thoroughbreds before Monday, and with the win surpassed Peppers Pride, the 19-for-19 mare who retired with earnings of $1,066,085. Corrina Corrina is within striking distance of inactive leader Rocky Gulch ($1,151,725), according to records from the New Mexico Horse Breeders Association.
Joel Marr, who trained Peppers Pride, has been impressed with Corrina Corrina, a 5-year-old mare.
“She’s nice, more than just nice,” he said. “She’s a tremendous horse. She’s definitely one of the best.”
Rocky Gulch, Corrina Corrina, and Peppers Pride rank as the three New Mexico-bred Thoroughbreds who have surpassed $1 million in career earnings.
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Corrina Corrina is now 16 for 31. She is a daughter of Mr. Trieste and races for her breeder, Derrick Jenkins. Gary Cross, 83, trains Corrina Corrina and also trained Mr. Trieste.
Hebert’s other stakes winners on the card were Holy Hank ($3.80) in the $150,000 Juvenile and Payingoffmymarker ($6.20) in the $150,000 Oaks.
Holy Hank bounded to a 4 1/4-length win over He’s a Genius, covering six furlongs in 1:10.45. The son of Holy Lute races for Robert Driggers, Del Rae Driggers, and Ben Lee Ivey, and he is trained by Simon Buechler.
Payingoffmymarker set the pace en route to a 3 1/2-length win over Scary Cherry in the Oaks. She covered 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:17.63. Todd Fincher trains the daughter of Marking for Dustin Brooks.
Fincher had another winner on the card when Tap Rock edged Sidewinder Slick by a head in the $150,000 Derby. The winner covered 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:17.06. Alfredo Juarez Jr. was aboard the son of Sporting Chance for Leslie Amestoy, Jean Pierre Amestoy Jr., and Roger K. Beasley.
Let Him Be takes Sprint
Marr trainee Let Him Be improved his record to 10 for 12 with a 1 1/2-length win over Diabolical Storm in the $150,000 Sprint. It was another 1 1/4 lengths back in third to Delbert Too.
Miguel Fuentes Jr. was aboard the winner. Let Him Be covered the distance in a hand-timed 1:12.40, according to the Equibase chart.
Let Him Be is a stakes winner at both one and two turns, and Marr said he focused on the Sprint rather than the two-turn Rocky Gulch with Let Him Be because the horse missed some training time due to weather and various circumstances, like the fires and flooding in Ruidoso.
“It's just added up and I just kind of felt like this was the best thing,” Marr said.
Let Him Be is a son of Sway Away who races for V Bar V Racing. He has now won four stakes and earned $491,580.
Rocky Gulch Classic
I Think I’m Here ($8.40) was six-length winner over Spinning Black in the $200,000 Rocky Gulch, which was run at 1 1/16 miles with a full field of 12. It was another 2 1/4 lengths back in third to Thunder Dome.
Thunder Dome, who is nearing $1 million in earnings, picked up $20,000 for his effort to push his bankroll to $985,157. He was seeking his fourth win in the Rocky Gulch.
Alfredo Juarez Jr. was winning his second stakes on the card aboard I Think I’m Here, who covered the distance in 1:43.49. Lillian Silva trains the son of Marking for Charles Dunleavy III.
* The Smooch ($12.20) surged to the lead in the later stages for a 1 1/2-length win over Shes Acting Single in the $150,000 Lassie. The winner covered six furlongs in 1:11.13. Christian Ramos was aboard for S and G Racing and trainer Larry Chavez.
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