Thunder Dome headlines Darnell Stakes
A dozen NM breds are entered in $70,000 race
Thunder Dome, a stakes winner at Albuquerque Downs on opening weekend, is one of a dozen New Mexico-bred thoroughbreds entered in Saturday’s 5½-furlong, $70,000 Casey Darnell Stakes.
Trained by Dallas Barton for owners W.D. Carson Sr., M.H. Carson, and Leach Racing Inc., Thunder Dome, the 9-5 morning-line favorite, is coming off of a second-place finish, a neck behind winner Go For A Stroll, in the 7½-furlong, $50,000 Land of Enchantment Handicap at Ruidoso Downs on July 29. The 4-year-old Dome gelding has earned $121,680 from seven starts this season, and his three wins include a 2¼-length victory in the 7-furlong, $70,000 O.D. McDonald Stakes at Albuquerque Downs on June 30.
Thunder Dome drew post 4 and will be ridden by Alfredo Juarez Jr. His 11 opponents include War Wounds, a 5-year-old Kentuckybred gelding trained by Jose Gonzalez Jr. for owner Miguel Gallegos’ Gallegos del Norte Racing. War Wounds has won two of his three starts at the current Albuquerque meet, both against allowance company at this 5½-furlong distance.
NOTES: Several of The Downs’ leading jockey, trainer, and owner titles are still up for grabs as the track heads into the penultimate weekend of its 55-day season. Alfredo Juarez Jr. is the meet’s leading thoroughbred jockey with 41 wins, seven more than second-place Elvin Gonzalez. Justin Evans has won 19 races to lead all thoroughbred trainers, four more than Henry Dominguez and Dick Cappelucci, tied for second. Tom and Sandy McKenna’s Judge Lanier Racing and Dr. Miguel Gallegos’ Gallegos del Norte Racing are tied for the top spot among thoroughbred owners with nine wins apiece.
On the Quarter Horse side, Edgar Martinez and Joseph Belloc Jr. lead all jockeys with 17 wins each, while Jesus Carrete is The Downs’ leading trainer with 23 victories, eight more than second-place Arnoldo Carrillo. The meet’s leading Quarter Horse owner, Pedro Carrillo, has won eight races and holds a one-win lead over second-place Carrete.