Zia Park: Platinum Song should like pace in Permian Basin

Platinum Song could get an ideal pace setup Sunday, when she seeks the second stakes win of her career in the $55,000 Permian Basin at Zia Park in Hobbs, N.M. A six-furlong race for 2-year-old fillies, the Permian Basin will share a card with the $55,000 Governor’s Cup.

Platinum Song won the $75,000 fillies division of the Texas Stallion Stakes from off the pace in July at Lone Star Park, and with several speed horses set to run in the Permian Basin, she could get a similar trip Sunday.

“I’d like to see the filly sit about mid-pack, then make a stretch move,” said Danny Pish, who trains Platinum Song for Scott Brown.

A field of nine will go in the Permian Basin, with four starters each coming off a front-running maiden win: Cowgirl Princess, Crafty Contessa, Christmas Cruise, and Winter Book. The race also drew Falling Star, who in June used her speed to win the $98,000 fillies division of the Texas Thoroughbred Association Sales Futurity at Lone Star Park.

Pish had briefly considered sending Platinum Song to Delta Downs for the $150,000 My Trusty Cat, a seven-furlong race to be run at two turns Friday, but he said there were a couple of reasons to target the Permian Basin.

“There was the possibility of the Delta race, but we decided to go for the one-turn sprint, being that’s where her success has been and that’s where her family’s success has been,” he said.

Pish said the Permian Basin also fills a void in the schedule for Platinum Song, since the next Texas Stallion Stakes for her division will not be run until December. She comes into the Permian Basin off a seven-length allowance sprint win at Louisiana Downs on Aug. 31. Platinum Song rallied from off the pace and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 77, the best last-race number in the field Sunday. She will break from post 2 under Ken Tohill. Estrickator leads the Governor’s Cup, a six-furlong race for 2-year-olds. He invades from Remington Park off a third-place finish in the $75,000 Kip Deville, in which he dueled through quick fractions on a track rated good. He might benefit if the strip is fast Sunday; he won his maiden and an allowance over such footing. Casey Lambert has the mount for Connie Scherr and trainer Steve Asmussen.

The chief threat could be Indication N M, who was third last out in the $134,000 Mountain Top Futurity for New Mexico-breds at Ruidoso. Alfredo Juarez Jr. has the mount for trainer Fred Danley.