April 16, 2001 – With fast track conditions, Wasatch made a record-breaking debut over the weekend in the feature race of the Easter Horse Races at the Randall "Doc" James track on St. Croix.
Wasatch took over the field early in the seventh and featured race and never looked back. The horse cruised to a four-and-a-half lengths victory and set a new track record in a six furlong race of 1:10 1/5.
"This was just a little expedition race," Wasatch’s trainer Tony Felix said after the performance.
However, when Felix was asked about taking the horse to St. Thomas for the Carnival races at the end of the month, he said, "We’re not coming to St. Thomas. Let them come to us."
Felix also said that St. Thomas’ track is too short and purses are too small.
The line was drawn in the sand. Those comments heated up the conversation on Radio One’s "One-on-One Sports." Running Thunder’s trainers fired back with their own proclamation. They said they were not going to go to St. Croix.
Running Thunder made his Virgin Islands debut on April 1 with a convincing victory in the feature race on St. Thomas’ Clinton E. Phipps Racetrack.
Meanwhile, there were eight races at St. Croix’s Easter races. Devil’s World upset the field in the first race, a class G for native’s and maidens with a purse of $3,000. Devil’s World won the five furlong in a time of 1:00 2/5. Don the Lord and Second Intention finished in second and third place respectively.
The second race of the day was a seven furlong for a purse of $3,200. A little filly named Don’t Give a Damn lead the race from wire to wire, winning in a time of 1:28 3/5. Bold King came in second and Solid Dancer finished third.
The upset bug was out again in the seven furlong third race with a purse of $3,400. The race was for non-winners, with long-shot More For Nicky winning the race. Super Highway finished second and Bubbling Star came in third. The favorite Call Me Nick finished sixth in the eight horse field.
The fourth race, dubbed the Easter Bonnet Race, was another seven furlong race for mares and fillies. Dana Star won the race and the $3,600 purse in a time of 1:26 3/5. See Jane Run came in second and Congelada finished third.
The fifth race was yet another seven furlong affair. However, this time the favorite, Spend a Cool Buck, won the race with a time of 1:25 3/5. Spend a Cool Buck led from wire to wire. Bettis finished second and Peluzo Panzi Panzi finished third.
The sixth race was a $4,000, mile-long affair. Resonante won the race with a time of 1:38. Cielo Mar came in second and Frosted Socks finished third.
The final race was the second mile-long challenge of the day. Armed Crusader beat the field of eight horses in a time of 1:40 2/5. Pyrite Ensign finished second and Don Gregy came in third.
