Scorpion Shot stings Sunland Park field and pays $4.80

After finishing second in three straight races at Sunland Park, it came as no surprise that Scorpion Shot would be 8/5 in the morning line for his next effort, which came on Friday. The surprise came when the 4-year-old Neolithic gelding was right around that number getting into the gate, but when the field headed for the first quarter and the tote board changed for the last time, he was down to 2/5.

With leading rider Alfredo Juarez Jr. in the irons, Scorpion Shot was away slowly and was a good 10 lengths back early down the backstretch in the race at six furlongs. He began picking up horses coming to the turn, and was still five lengths back in mid-stretch. But a strong final sixteenth powered him to the lead and he drew off to win by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:11.88.

It’s the first victory for Scorpion Shot in eight starts and the check for $6,900 boosted his earnings to $18,300. Neolithic is third on Florida’s general sire list with $633,166 in 2025 progeny earnings, and third in number of winners with 18.