Marr, Juarez Dominate New Mexico Cup Series

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Favored That's Who prevailed in the featured $192,720 Rocky Gulch New Mexico Classic Cup Championship over a stubborn Atomic Echo, giving trainer Joel Marr and jockey Alfredo Juarez Jr. four wins apiece on the rich program for state-breds Oct. 26 at Zia Park.



Stalking the leaders into the stretch, 8-5 choice That's Who collared outsider Atomic Echo and inched away in the final sixteenth to win by three-quarters of a length while completing the one-mile distance in 1:36.92 on a fast main track. Atomic Echo, at 23-1, finished second by 4 1/4 lengths over 2012 Rocky Gulch winner On Down the Road, also trained by Marr.



Owned by his breeder Sam E. Stevens and Latane Stevens, That's Who is a 5-year-old gelding by Quinton's Gold out of Rama Lassie, by Hadif. That's Who capped a big day for Marr, who came into Sunday's program with 992 career wins.



Best known for his handling of the undefeated New Mexico mare Peppers Pride, Marr had wins earlier on the card with Attitude E Racer ($6.80) in the $176,500 New Mexico Classic Cup Sprint Championship, Zasha ($7) in the $179,360 Peppers Pride New Mexico Classic Cup Championship Fillies & Mares, and odds-on Proceed ($3.40) in the $152,100 New Mexico Classic Cup Championship Colts & Geldings.



Juarez scored his earlier victories with Little Vidalia ($3.80) in the $136,500 New Mexico Classic Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Championship, Twixy Roll ($4.20) in the $151,600 New Mexico Classic Cup Juvenile Fillies, and aboard Proceed for Marr.



Also winning  during the eight-race Thoroughbred series worth more than $1.2 million were Renewed Vows ($9.80), who scored for owner/breeder R.D. Hubbard and trainer Bart Hone in the $149,860 New Mexico Classic Cup Championship Filly Stakes for 3-year-olds with Irwin Rosendo aboard.



The $152,720 New Mexico Classic Cup Juvenile for Colts & Gelding went to Liberty Lover ($8.40), ridden by Ry Eikleberry for owner/breeders J. Kirk and Judy Robison and trainer Henry Dominguez.



That's Who raced fourth while four wide early as Carmen's Rocket sped the front in the main event and clicked off fractions of :23.75, :47.26, and 1:11.16 while maintaining a narrow advantage over Atomic Echo, who prompted the pace with Rosendo aboard. Atomic Echo got a short lead in the stretch and battled tenaciously as That's Who drew even in the drive for the wire, before the favorite asserted control in the final 100 yards.



The victory, worth $115,200, extended That's Who's earnings to $675,142 with his 14th lifetime win from 26 starts. Coming off a second in the Land of Enchantment Handicap at Ruidoso Downs July 27, That's Who was also runner-up in the Rocky Gulch last year.



Under equal weights of 123 pounds, That's Who paid $5.20, $3.20, and $2.60. Atomic Echo returned $13.80 and $8.80 as part of a $98.40 exacta. On Down the Road, ridden by Carlos Medeira, paid $2.80 to show.