Thirty-four state-bred newly turned 3-year-olds, led by multiple graded stakes winner Pavel (pictured) , are entered to make their next starts in Saturday’s 400-yard Shue Fly Stakes (RG2).
A gelded son of Czar Cartel MV owned and trained by Jorge Luis Sanchez Jr., Pavel is coming off of a juvenile campaign during which he won three stakes, including the April 6, $355,000 New Mexican Spring Futurity (RG2) at Sunland Park, and the May 18, $234,000 New Mexico Breeders Futurity (RG3) at SunRay Park. Pavel was a $6,000 yearling purchase at the 2023 New Mexico-Bred Sale at Ruidoso Downs.
Pavel drew post 5 and will be ridden by Luis Martinez in the second of four trials.
Other prominent Shue Fly trial entries include Alepony LLC’s Harken, a graded stakes winning son of Eye Am King trained by Jesus Soto and a $145,000 yearlilng buy. Harken has banked $260,422 from his seven outs, and the gelding’s four wins include a nose victory in last year’s Mountain Top Futurity (RG2) at Ruidoso Downs.
Harken drew post 4 and will be ridden by Sergio Becerra Jr. in the third heat.
The 10 fastest qualifiers will meet in the February 2, $100,000-added Shue Fly Stakes final.