Field of six entered in New Mexico Breeders’ Oaks
SUNLAND PARK – Coming off a convincing upset win last time out in the Peppers Pride Stakes, Todd Fincher-trained Marka has been installed as the 9-to-5 morning line favorite in Sunday’s 16th running of the $175,000-guaranteed New Mexico Breeders’ Oaks at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino.
Owned and bred by Robert M. and Del Rae Driggers and Ben Lee Ivey, Marka was sent off at odds of more than 11-to-1 when she ran off to a 4 1/4 length win in the Peppers Pride Stakes here on Feb. 15. The daughter of Marking had made only two prior starts, had never won a race and had never raced beyond six furlongs before her convincing win under jockey Cristian Torres. On Sunday, Marka will be ridden by Luis Valenzuela in the New Mexico Breeders’ Oaks, the sixth race on the card, facing five rivals including stablemate I Am Paula Revere.
Trainer Dallas Barton will be looking for back-to-back stakes wins for rail sitter Country Club Crush (pictured), the 5-to-2 second choice on the morning line with Miguel Fuentes, Jr. in the irons.
Owned by Barbara Barton and Jay H. Barton, Country Club Crush has won three of five career starts with stakes victories in the NM Classic Lassie Stakes as a 2-year-old at Zia Park last November, and most recently, a win in the La Senora Stakes here on Jan. 19. Bred in New Mexico by Dallas Barton, Country Club Crush has amassed earnings of more than $185,000. The daughter of Marking will be attempting to win around two turns for the first time in her career.
Trainer Simon Buechler will send out the maiden Unwound in the New Mexico Breeders’ Oaks. Winless after three starts, the daughter of Kentucky Wildcat pressed the pace before settling for second behind Marka in the Peppers Pride Stakes last time out. Owned by Asmussenequine.com, Martin Riley, Frances Latimer and Chris W. Scott and bred in New Mexico by Zolene Voigt Knott, Unwound has finished no worse than third in each of her prior outings.
Unwound, the 4-to-1 third choice on the morning line, will break from post three in the Oaks and will be ridden by Christian Ramos.
The field, with morning line odds and riders for the New Mexico Breeders’ Oaks:
1 Country Club Crush (5-2) Miguel Fuentes, Jr.
2 Awesome Glory (6-1) Orlando Mojica
3 Unwound (4-1) Christian Ramos
4 Marka (9-5) Luis Valenzuela
5 Holy Miss (8-1) Francisco Amparan 6 I Am Paula Revere (9-2) Oscar Andrade, Jr.