THOROUGHBREDS: BORN FORCE INTERCEPTS TEBOW TIME IN INAUGURAL
Tebow Time set a fast pace in a speedy renewal of the $40,000, 6-furlong (3/4 miles) Inaugural Stakes on Sunday at Arapahoe Park before being picked off by favorite Born Force. The 3-year-old gray Born Force pulled away in the stretch to win Arapahoe's first Thoroughbred stakes by 2 1/2 lengths as the 8-5 favorite for jockey Michael Ziegler, trainer Mark Jensen and owner Deana Jensen.
Tebow Time, who had a clear lead in the backstretch for jockey Vince Guerra, had his two-race win streak snapped but held on for second as a 7-1 longshot. War Signal closed for third at odds of 22-1.
Born Force had been knocking on the door in stakes company with two thirds in the Turf Paradise Derby and Lost in the Fog Juvenile at Turf Paradise in Arizona. Last year's Inaugural winner Wally Van went on to win four of the top 3-year-old races at Arapahoe Park.
QUARTER HORSES: CARTELS FIRST CARDS RETURNS TO WIN DASH FOR SPEED
Cartels First Card had last appeared on the racetrack in January 2011 and made a successful return to the races on Sunday winning the $15,000, 330-yard Dash For Speed Stakes. Alejandro Luna, who had also ridden Cartels First Card to two Arapahoe stakes wins in 2010, was aboard, and the 2-1 favorite owned by Hugo Barron Sierra and trained by Jose Manuel Barron is now a perfect three for three at Arapahoe.
Patriots Glory held second in the field of nine for jockey Elliot Bachicha, Jr., and Wave Bac was third. Final time for the 330 yards was 16.56 seconds.
ARABIANS: MS DIXIE COULD BE NEXT ARABIAN STAR
Some of the best Arabians in the country raced at Arapahoe Park last year, such as T M Fred Texas, who followed two Arapahoe stakes wins by going to Dubai and winning the $250,000 Dubai Kahayla Classic on World Cup card day in March. On opening weekend this year, Ms Dixie made an impressive Arapahoe debut as the 6 1/4-length winner in the Cobra Distaff Sprint. Lori Anne finished second in the 6-furlong, $20,000 race for the second year in a row.
Ms Dixie has now won two stakes this year in three starts, also capturing the Grade 2 Texas Yellow Rose Stakes at Sam Houston in February.
