06/16/2012 2:23PM

SunRay: Pair of stakes-placed maidens look good in Totah

By Mary Rampellini
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Key to the Venture and Indy’s Ransom might still be maidens, but they bring arguably the best credentials into the $75,000 Totah at SunRay Park in Farmington, N.M., on Tuesday. The 4 1/2-furlong race drew a field of six, and is restricted to 2-year-old colts and geldings bred in New Mexico. First post is 3 p.m. Mountain.

Key to the Venture and Indy’s Ransom exit the $120,000 Copper Top Futurity at Sunland Park on April 14. They finished a respective second and third in the 4 1/2-furlong race, with Key to the Venture finishing three-quarters of a length in front of Indy’s Ransom.

The Beyer Figure of 55 that Key to the Venture earned is the best-last race number in the Totah. Key to the Venture also has experience on all of his rivals, as he has made three career starts. He was second in a two-furlong maiden special weight for New Mexico-breds at Sunland on March 3, then was second in trials for the Copper Top on March 20.

Guadalupe Munoz Jr. trains Key to the Venture, a son of the Storm Cat stallion Storm of Goshen.

Indy’s Ransom has made two starts, finishing third in a trial for the Copper Top in his career debut March 20. The race, run over 4 1/2 furlongs, produced the Copper Top winner, Kiss My Hennessy, who was second in the trial. Indy’s Ransom then rallied from next to last for third in the finale, earning a Beyer Figure of 52.

Indy’s Ransom has now come from off the pace in both of his starts, and while he figures to improve with distance as a son of the A.P. Indy stallion Indy Wildcat, he could get a good setup in the Totah. A number of horses have speed, including Key to the Venture, Storms Surprise, and Bolger Lane, both of whom were front-running maiden special weight winners in their last starts at SunRay Park.

Indy’s Ransom is trained by Ross Amestoy.

The field also includes Jenson’s Miracle, whose dam, Dela’s Diamond, was a four-time stakes winner. He is trained by Johnnie Nall. Attila’s Parting is from the stakes-winning mare Parting.