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The Jim Cranwell-owned and trained Red Hot Fever held off Prince Tutta in a two-horse battle to claim victory in the $9,000 feature race Friday at Fonner Park.
Red Hot Fever, under jockey Armando Martinez, broke alertly and opened up a quick lead. Yuri Yaranga brought Prince Tutta, from the Kim Veerhusen barn, up to challenge and briefly headed Red Hot Fever on the far turn. Martinez asked Red Hot Fever for more and found it to open a lead. He would repel a late challenge from Yaranga and Prince Tutta to win the race by a head at the finish line.
"I saw Yuri coming on the turn," Martinez said. "But, I hadn't yet asked my horse to run, he dug down and inched away. Jim had a lot of bottom in him, which showed in the stretch."
Cranwell was ecstatic about Martinez's ride and his gelding's performance.
"Armando just rode him great," Cranwell said. "I was surprised he broke him out to the lead, but he knew what he was doing, and still had horse left at the end."
The St. Paul conditioner won his first race of the meet with Red Hot Fever who is used to pictures in the winner's circle.
"He's shown he can run, he won four last year and one this year, we'll see what comes up for him in the future," Cranwell said.
Red Hot Fever covered the six furlong distance in a quick 1:13:20. Cranwell's 5-year-old was sent off as the betting favorite and paid $4 to win, the Red Hot Fever/Prince Tutta exacta returned $18.60, while Mike's Pet completed a $105.80 trifecta payoff.
Damon Leeds tied his all-time best day as a jockey, as the veteran rider won four races on the day.
"I had some good mounts today," a happy Leeds said. "Today really helps as I went on an unplanned vacation last week."
Leeds missed three days of racings because of a riding infraction in a race two weeks ago.
Leeds scored with Three Skips Away for the Ron Raver barn in race three, won the fourth on Tim Anderson's Sandy's K.O., won on last to first fashion on Steve Hall's The Nutz in the seventh and took the nightcap for David Anderson on R J Fantasy.
Hoofprints
* Trainer A.J. Musquiz won his first race this season as Don Herber guided his Choice Cut to an off the pace win in the eighth race. Choice Cut lit up the toteboard, as the six-year-old returned $38.40 to win.
* Martinez had a two win day as he also teamed up with trainer Larry Staroscik to win the second race on a last to first performance on Salty Dancing.
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