Sir Rick Wins Mine That Bird Derby in Gallant Effort
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Photo: Coady Photography
Sir Rick wins the Mine That Bird Derby at Sunland Park
Richard Davis' homebred Sir Rick showed off his blazing turn of foot and put his competition away in style with a four-length score in the $100,000 Mine That Bird Derby Feb. 23 at Sunland Park.
Trained by Robertino Diodoro, Sir Rick, under jockey Francisco Arrieta, broke a touch behind Top Draw, who rode the rail to the front in the 1 1/16-mile race. Sir Rick chased Top Draw along the backstretch and slowly chipped away at his narrow lead.
Sir Rick took the lead at the six-furlong mark and had plenty of speed in reserve entering the stretch. He drifted out even wider before opening his lead with a final kick.
Despite his hard-running effort, Top Draw could not counter Sir Rick with a kick of his own and began to drift back. Sir Rick drew off in deep stretch unchallenged and crossed the wire clear in 1:44.23.
Top Draw managed to hold on for second, 3 1/4 lengths ahead of Stackin Silver in third. It was another 3 1/4 lengths back to Tappin Fora Dance in fourth, followed by Jungle Runner to complete the order.
Bred in Kentucky out of the Quiet American mare Quiet Inferno, Sir Rick broke his maiden in his second start in August at Louisiana Downs and followed with an allowance win at Delta Downs. The Paynter colt placed third in the Jean Laffite Stakes at Delta Downs to close his juvenile season. He won his sophomore debut Jan. 18 in a one-mile allowance optional claiming race at Sam Houston Race Park.
Sir Rick improved his record to 4-0-1 from six starts with $126,012 in earnings.
The Mine That Bird Derby was the highlight on a four-stakes card at Sunland Park. Stable H. M. A.'s Shanghai Keely kicked off the afternoon with a victory in the $75,000 Island Fashion Stakes for trainer Justin Evans.
Barbara Coleman's Blazing Navarone went gate-to-wire one race later in the $100,000 Albert and Henry Dominguez Memorial Handicap for New Mexico-breds. Following the Mine That Bird Derby, Terry Adams' homebred Effort N Results took the $100,000 Red Hedeman Mile Stakes, also for New Mexico-breds.