Danjer continues winning ways in Grade 1, The Championship at Sunland Park
Danjer continued to cement his legacy as one of the greatest quarter horses of all time on Saturday afternoon at Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino
The 6-year-old, Oklahoma-bred son of Fdd Dynasty overcame a bit of a slow start and soared to a win in the 21st running of the 440-yard, $350,000 The Championship at Sunland Park.
Danjer switched gears after the start and was in good form down the middle of the track to win the race in 20.62 seconds, just off the world record held by First Moonflash, which was set in 2009.
"He's such a professional horse," winning jockey James Flores said. "I'm fortunate to ride this great horse, who has accomplished so much. I talked to some others who rode this horse and they said don't worry if he gets off a bit slow, he'll be fine and finish strong. I think the last 150 yards, I knew he was in great shape. It was a good race, a tough race. But Danjer is such a talented horse and he's beaten the very best in this sport."
Danjer was the second choice by the betting public at post time at odds of 8-5 and returned $5.40 to win for his loyal backers. He earned $157,000 to bring his career earnings to $2,240,000.
Danjer is trained by Dean Frey, who is also part of the ownership group with Downtime Enterprises LLC and Billy G. Smith. He earned his fifth stakes win in 2022. He was victorious in stakes races across the country in 2022, including at Albuquerque Downs, Horseshoe Indianapolis, as well as Canterbury Park and Remington Park.
"It's amazing what Danjer has accomplished," said Smith, who lives in Albuquerque. "He's won tracks all over the country during his career. Dean just felt he was ready for this race and Danjer responded. Initially Danjer was going to skip this race but it worked out. Danjer has given us so many great moments and he seems to be getting better all the time."
KJ Desparado, who won the 2022 All American Futurity and was the 3-2 post time favorite, finished second for trainer Wes Giles and jockey Adrian Ramos. In eight starts in 2022, KJ Desprado never finished worse than second.
Flash Bak and Instygator rounded out the top four finishers.
Bikini Time, Minister of Soul win stakes races
Bikini Time snapped a five-race losing streak Sunday in the 22nd running of the $100,000 New Mexico State Racing Commission Handicap under a heads-up ride under Enrique Gomez.
Chasing a group of leaders, which included the pacesetting duo of Quatro and Tight Fittin Jeans through an opening quarter mile of 21.98 seconds, Gomez nudged Bikini Time from the middle of the racetrack and down towards the inside on the far turn.
As the early leaders continued to battle on the lead at the head of the lane, Gomez was making up ground aboard Bikini Time, grabbing the lead inside the final furlong before inching clear in the final yards to win by 1 1/4 lengths. The Bart Hone trainee crossed the finish line in a final time of 1:03.6 for 5 1/2 furlongs.
A 5-year-old daughter of Atilla's Time, Bikini Time earned her fourth win from 10 career starts.
Sent off at odds of 6.80-to-1, Bikini Time returned $15.80 to her winning investors. The $60,000 winners share of the purse increased her career earnings to nearly $157,000.
The winning owner was Brian Mundell of El Paso.
"She ran a good race, glad to have the win," Mundell said. "The whole breeding line keeps giving. The trainer had her ready."
Jockey Harry Hernandez scored an impressive stakes win on Sunday with late-running Minister of Soul, who ran down pacesetting Good Bye Charlie to win the 32nd running of the $65,000 KLAQ Handicap.
Owned and trained by Estaban Martinez Valdez, Minister of Soul raced midpack down the backstretch while Good Bye Charlie and Danz at Colfax were dueling through a very fast opening quarter mile of 21.64 seconds. Hernandez swept to the outside of Good Bye Charlie while making up ground with a furlong to go, then passed the leader in the final 100 yards before inching clear to a 1 1/4 length win, stopping the timer for 5 furlongs in 57.06 seconds.
Minister of Soul, a 9-year-old California-bred gelding by Ministers Wild Cat, picked up his 16th lifetime win from 51 starts. He has now won two straight races.
Bet down to the 4-to-5 post time favorite, Minister of Soul returned $3.60 to his winning investors. Good Bye Charlie held on for the place under jockey Felipe Valdez. The $2 exacta with the top pair of finishers returned $28.
"At nine, this horse keeps on performing at a high level," Hernandez said. "For me personally, I always enjoy getting the chance to ride him in a big race and he's one at different tracks."
Live racing resumes Tuesday with a nine-race card of thoroughbred action which will get underway at 12:25 p.m.
More: Horse racing begins at Sunland Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino readies for 63rd year of horse racing
Felix F. Chavez can be reached at fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezeptimes on Twitter
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Danjer continues winning ways in The Championship at Sunland Park
