Hs Paul Walker (#8), under jockey Hector Aldrete, held off Fly On Down (#4) and jockey Juan Rivas in the $100,000 Red Or Green Stakes Saturday afternoon at Sunland Park.

© Coady Photography

SUNLAND PARK, NM—JANUARY 7, 2023—it was go, go, go for Hs Paul Walker in the $100,000 Red Or Green Stakes Saturday afternoon at Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino.

The 7-year-old son of multiple stakes sire Osbaldo broke well and off Fly On Down by a neck for his first career stakes win.

Under jockey Hector Aldrete, Hs Paul Walker raced over the 400 yards in :19.517 seconds, equaling a 101 speed index into a 5 mph crosswind. It was the eighth career win for the New Mexico bred gelding owned-and bred by Hubaldo Solis.  

Alfredo Gomez conditions the gray gelding out of Strawberryberryfast by Strawflyin Buds. Hs Paul Walker has compiled an 8-8-2 record from 32 starts. The $60,000 winner's purse boosted his lifetime mark to $278,242.

The winning connections of Hs Paul Walker accept the Red Or Green Stakes trophy at Sunland Park.
© Coady Photography

Graded stakes-placed Fly On Down earned $20,000 for his second-place effort under jockey Juan Rivas. Jose Galvan trains the 5-year-old One Handsome Man horse for owner Dalia Aranda. Nannette and Terry Lane bred the gray in New Mexico from the Strawfly Special mare Never The Same. Fly On Down has banked $190,125.

Graded stakes winner Don Chuy C picked up $10,000 for third. Jamie Aldavaz, Sr. named jockey Adrian Ramos to ride the 6-year-old son of champion sire First Moonflash for owner Jesus Carrasco. Bred by Mike Abraham, from the Spit Curl Jess mare Jess Say Bye Bye, Don Chuy C has earned $275,000 in 28 career starts.

Completing the field were Jess Ring The Bell, Bigg Dee, Man Of Faith, Hunky McGoo, Dragon On Ice, Jessies Allstar and Big Curst Bb.

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Sunday's all-thoroughbred, nine-race card is headlined by a pair of stakes races, including the 22nd running of the $100,000 Corralito Steak House Stakes, with a field of nine state-bred sprinters racing 6 furlongs. The field is topped by morning line favorite Antonios Mark, trained by Dallas Barton and slated to be ridden by Oscar Ceballos. The Corralito Steak House Stakes will go as the eighth race on the card with a scheduled post time of 3:32 p.m. local time.

The ninth race on the card is the 30th running of the $65,000 Bold Ego Handicap, featuring 10 older female sprinters racing 5 1/2 furlongs. Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen sends out 2-to-1 morning line favorite Ari Oakley, who will be seeking his first career stakes win and is scheduled to be ridden by Alfredo Juarez, Jr. Post time for the Bold Ego Handicap is set for 4 p.m. (MDT).