In mule racing, veteran can't punch out Ticket

<p>Sarah Nelson, likely the winningest animal currently racing in North America, was denied victory No. 53 on Thursday at the Sonoma County Fair, but it took a track record effort to beat the 11-year-old mule.</p><p>Bar JF Red Ticket, another that loves to win races, beat Sarah Nelson by a head and ran the 350 yards in 20.228 seconds. That eclipsed Genghis Khan's record of 20.301 set in 2008. The 5-year-old Red Ticket has won 16 of her 24 starts.</p><p>Back at the barn following Thursday's race, Sarah Nelson's fan club did not let the narrow loss dampen their spirits.</p><p>“She gives 100 per cent every time she races,” said Roger Downey, who has owned the mule for all 89 of her starts. “If anything, I think she's gotten better with age.”</p><p>Trainer Diana Skinner said it's an ego thing that is allowing Sarah Nelson to keep pace with the younger opposition.</p><p>“All those wins have given her a feeling of superiority,” Skinner said. “She is very confident and is going to fight back anytime she's not in the lead. She thinks she's hot stuff and can back it up.”</p><p>Sarah Nelson came out of the gate behind Red Ticket and could never get past that rival, although she was cutting into the lead in the final yards. Second place money pushed her career earnings over $250,000.</p><p>Jode Collins, who cares for Sarah Nelson on her farm in Lincoln from October to March when there is no mule racing, agrees that the mare doesn't lack confidence.</p><p>“She like the football player that's always the star of his team,” Collins said. “She's very confident and knows she's special. Away from the track, we spoil her but how can you not treat her differently when she's accomplished so much.”</p><p>Downey, who lives in Albuquerque, bought Sarah Nelson for $2,600 in 2002.</p><p>“She was unraced and I'd never raced a mule but she had that look about her,” Downey said. “It turned out I was right. She has a cockiness about her that says, ‘don't you know who I am?' Her best trait is her confidence.”</p><p>Sarah's entourage is managing her career so she can continue racing until she's at least 14. She raced only four times in 2009 and Thursday was her third race this year. She'll run next month at Ferndale and then maybe one or two more races before calling it a year.</p><p>“She'd be unhappy if we retired her,” Downey said. “She set track records at Solano and Stockton last year and then she made Red Ticket go in track record time to beat her. She loves the competition and this is what she loves doing.”</p><p>Downey likes Sarah Nelson so much, he's cloned her. Since 2006, cloned mules have been allowed to race. The embryo transfer was done at the University of Idaho and the foal is now at Collins' farm.</p><p>“The baby is the spitting image of Sarah,” Downey said. “Does she have as big a heart? Only time will tell.” </p><p><b>NOTES</b></p><p>Santa Rosa trainer Steve Specht picked up a win when Coastal Souvenir ($6.00) captured the eighth race. “It's always a relief to get that first win of the meet,” Specht said. “I've only been shutout one meet here.Through the years, I've won a lot of races at the fair and it's still a thrill.”</p><p>Russell Baze, the world's winningest rider, urged first-time starter Whisper Tothesouth ($6.80) to victory in the sixth. In typical fashion, Baze refused to give up when his horse was passed turning in the stretch and the two-year-old rallied for a photo finish win. Baze was shut out on opening day, but figures to have success today. The Hall of Famer is riding all seven thoroughbred races and is on five morning line favorites.</p><p>William E. Morey showed he's prepared to make a run at leading trainer honors as he picked up two winners Thursday. In addition to Whisper Tothesouth, he scored with County Kildare ($3.00) in the fifth.</p>