Monday, September 27, 2010
J. Martin Bourdieu rode Russian Lane to a convincing 6 1/4-length victory in the 6-furlong, $77,567 George Maloof Futurity (R) for New Mexico-bred colts and geldings at The Downs at Albuquerque on Sunday.
Saddled by Cal Martin for his wife, Marjorie Martin, Russian Lane covered his trip in 1:10.38 after setting fractions of :22.01, 44.36, and :57.61. The chestnut colt by Devon Lane returned a $6.40 win mutuel as the 2-1 favorite.
The Martins acquired Russian Lane for $9,700 from breeders Vessels Stallion Farm and John K. Goodman at last year’s New Mexico-Bred Yearling Sale at Ruidoso Downs. The colt became the 11th stakes winner from 10 crops sired by Devon Lane, a winning 17-year-old son of the Storm Bird stallion Storm Cat. Devon Lane is a half brother to Stellar Jayne, a three-time Grade 1 winner at Belmont Park from 2004-05, and Grade 1 winner Starrer, and his 233 starters have banked more than $7.2 million and include his top earner, Grade 1 winner River’s Prayer. He stands for a $2,500 fee at Terry and Nan Lane’s TNL Farm at Bosque, New Mexico.
Russian Lane’s dam, Russian Bonus, is a winning daughter of the Chief’s Crown stallion Bonus Money (GB). Now 10, Russian Bonus is a half sister to Russian Elite, an Apollo gelding who ran second in the $53,100 Sunland Park Fall Thoroughbred Derby in ’04.
Russian Lane’s fourth dam, Joint Intent, was a winning 1971 foal by Battle Joined who produced nine winners from as many starters, including two graded stakes winners – Gundaghia, a gelding by Ole Bob Bowers who won 12 stakes in California from 1991-95, including the ’92 Vernon O. Underwood Stakes (G3) at Hollywood Park, and First Intent, a Prima Voce gelding who won the 1997 Potrero Grande Breeders’ Cup Handicap (G2) at Santa Anita and Bing Crosby Breeders’ Cup Handicap (G3) at Del Mar.
Russian Lane has been campaigned exclusively in New Mexico, and the colt has earned $66,384 from three wins in four starts. On July 3, he ran second, a nose behind Verny, in the 4 ½-furlong, $75,000 Totah Stakes (R) at SunRay Park.
Russian Lane combined with runner-up Running Squall, the 9-2 fourth choice, for a $28 ($2) exacta. Harry And Lloyd, a 36-1 longshot, ran third to complete a $564.60 ($2) trifecta.
Cool Crypto, Precocious Derby, Elijah’s Elite, D J’s Diamond, Ego And Honor, Numberoneson, Keddy Kaufaye, Super Devon and Wildwood Lane completed the order of finish.
Running Squall earned $15,513 to push his bankroll to $126,130 for owner William T. Stradley of Hobbs, New Mexico. The homebred gelding by Squall has won three of nine races, including the 5 ½-furlong, $189,633 Rio Grande Senor Futurity (R) at Ruidoso Downs on August 1.
Harry And Lloyd races for Derrell Riggan of Merkel, Texas, who acquired the gray or roan Silver Season gelding for $1,500 at last year’s New Mexico-Bred Yearling Sale. A maiden winner in his career debut at Sunland Park back in April, Harry And Lloyd has earned $26,018 from four outs.