Thor's Echo proves too tough in WinStar

Suarez Racing Inc. and Royce S. Jaime Racing's THOR'S ECHO (Swiss Yodeler)

battled back in the stretch to win Saturday's $500,000

WinStar Derby by a length

at Sunland Park. The lightly raced gelding led the way early over the fast New

Mexico track, establishing splits of :22 4/5 and :46 3/5, before being passed on

the backstretch by Southern Africa (Cape Town) nearing the far turn. He

continued to trail that rival, dropping a half-length behind on the bend, as

Southern Africa appeared on his way to the win, but Thor's Echo found more along

the inside when straightening for home, re-rallying to draw even and duel with

his opponent before edging clear in deep stretch.

With Corey Nakatani in the irons for trainer Doug O'Neill, Thor's Echo

completed 1 1/8 miles in 1:49 2/5 and revered the order of the Borderland Derby

in late February when he fell 1 1/4 lengths short to Southern Africa. The

California-bred three-year-old earned his first stakes victory as the 2-1 second

choice in the eight-horse field and improved his overall mark to 4-2-1-1 with a

bankroll of $321,560. Sort It Out (Out of Place), the 2-1 third choice, offered

a bid into the stretch to reach striking position but couldn't make up enough

ground on the top two, missing the place by a neck. Next came Dover Dere

(Cherokee Run), Tudor Needed (River Flyer), Quiet Money (Seattle Slew), Cajun

Pepper (Barricade) and Riverman Jack (Cape Canaveral).

Bred by Fast Lane Farms & Block & Forman, Thor's Echo is the second foal from

the unraced Helen of Troy (Mr. Integrity). The improving chestnut will likely be

pointed toward the Kentucky Derby (G1), but he doesn't have any graded earnings

yet. Thor's Echo also gave O'Neill and Nakatani their second rich score on the

afternoon, following a victory by Merv Griffin's CEE'S IRISH (Cee's Tizzy) in

the $259,000

WinStar/Sunland Park Oaks.

Cee's Irish went right to the lead at the start and dueled with Dayglogreen

(Comet Shine) through the majority of the 1 1/16-mile Oaks before drawing clear

in the stretch for a 2 1/4-length victory. The sophomore filly recorded her

third stakes triumph, following wins in the Corte Madera S. and grassy Blue Norther S. She stopped the teletimer in 1:44 3/5. Dayglogreen held the place by

3 1/2 lengths over third placer Island Escape (Petionville).

In the $104,450

New Mexico Breeders' Derby, Glenda Godwin's C.G'S DOLLAR (Ghostly Moves) rallied from just off the

pace to win by a length with Glenn Corbett in the saddle. The Jose Ramos-trained

gray notched his first stakes win and improved his overall mark to 9-3-3-0 when

finishing a mile in 1:39 1/5. Armando Jurado's BLUE SONG (Sultry Song) broke first in the $104,350

Harry W. Hanson H. and never relinquished that lead,

eventually taking the one-mile affair in 1:35 3/5 under jockey

Ken Tohill. Trained by Jose Gonzalez, the four-year-old filly now has a record

of 19-7-2-3 with $139,459 in earnings.