Eight New Mexico-bred sophomores, led by morning-line favorite Valentino Who (pictured), are entered in Sunday’s 6 1/2-furlong, $100,000 Dine Stakes (R) at SunRay Park.
A bay son of the Indian Charlie stallion Comfort, Valentino Who is trained by Jose A. Gonzalez for owner Juan Carlos Gutierrez, who claimed the gelding for $12,500 at Sunland Park on February 12. Valentino Who has since won one of his two starts, including the 1 1/16-mile, $250,000 New Mexico Breeders’ Derby (R) at Sunland Park at odds of 44-1 on March 26.
Valentino Who drew post 7 and will be ridden by Jose Miguel Vazquez. Other contenders include Smartsrealgood, a gelded son of the Afleet Alex stallion Sway Away racing for R. Dwain Yarbar, Duncan Hamlin, and trainer Greg Green. The homebred gelding is coming off of a third-place finish, 1 1/2 lengths behind Valentino Who, in the New Mexico Breeders’ Derby, but he ended his 2-year-old season with a come-from-behind two-length victory in the October 30, 6-furlong New Mexico Cup Juvenile Championship (R) at Zia Park.
Smartsrealgood drew post 5 and will be ridden by Francisco Amparan.
The complete lineup for the Dine Stakes, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:
New Mexico Jeremy (Alejandro Medellin), 8-1
Artful Critic (Tracy Hebert), 6-1
Ar Ya Weegee (Jorge Carreno), 7-1
George Who (Felipe Valdez), 4-1
Smartsrealgood (Francisco Amparan), 9-2
Hennessy Looker RF (Christian Ramos), 10-1
Valentino Who (Jose Miguel Vazquez), 3-1
Remember Sixtytwo (Jose L. Torres), 5-1