Hastings Racecourse was hot on Sunday. Pedro Alvarado won three races. Keishan Balgobin rode a double. The 22-year-old sire Stephanotis showed everyone he was still hot, siring two winners. SenorRojo scorched an Allowance type field on his way to a daylight win. And the racing fans that came out were blazing under the sun.

Senor Rojo: Nine Is The New Five
The best horses on the day ran in the second, an Allowance Optional Claiming event at 1 1/16 miles for older horses and it was won by the oldest horse, Senor Rojo ($7.10), who at age 9 still knows what to do and can still do it. Stepupforthemoney closed from last to be second, although 4 lengths behind the winner, and Laguna Blaze trooped along in an even but non-threatening effort to be third.

Senor Rojo won his first career start in July of 2008 in a Maiden Special Weight with Felipe Valdez up. His next win came in June of 2009 and Richard Hamel rode him. In their careers, the two have been together 25 times and won 9. They have been one-two-three in 15 of their 25 starts. Senor Rojo has won 4 stakes in his career, including the Grade 3 Premier’s in 2010, and the Speed to Spare twice at Northlands. He has placed in 17 other stakes. Now he has won or placed in 41 of 57 starts and earned $450,000. He is a commendable racehorse and on Sunday, he was a formidable one.

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