Arapahoe Park: E F Five back in with statebreds for Aspen

The Colorado-bred sprint division will begin to take shape on Saturday, when a field of nine older horses meet at six furlongs in the $40,615 Aspen at Arapahoe Park.

The race is one of two statebred stakes on the program. Quarter Horses will be featured in the $75,000 Cherry Creek Futurity.

E F Five has been one of the better Colorado-bred sprinters the past several years. He won the $37,000 Colorado Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Futurity at six furlongs at Arapahoe in 2009, then last season accounted for the track’s Colorado Breeders’ Stallion Stakes at seven furlongs. E F Five will be getting back with statebreds Saturday, after finishing sixth in the $40,000 Arapahoe Sprint on June 5.

E F Five lagged some 13 lengths behind quick fractions in the Arapahoe Sprint, and figures to again bid from off the pace Saturday. Big Mission, Hewilltu, and Celtic Sunday all should make for honest fractions up front in the Aspen, with E F Five breaking to their outside in post 9.

Travis Wales has the mount for trainer Kenneth Gleason.

My Johnny Cash and Hewilltu both return to the stakes ranks after finishing a second and third to E F Five in last year’s Stallion Stakes.

◗ Baby I Like It set the fastest qualifying time for the Cherry Creek, when he won his 330-yard trial in 16.87 seconds June 3 at Arapahoe. The race was hand-timed. Baby I Like It was the favorite for his trial, which was also his career debut. He led throughout for a half-length win over Always First and Corona Like Me, who both return for the finale Saturday.

The Cherry Creek, at 330 yards, drew a field of 10. Jose Barron trains Baby I Like It for his breeder, Hugo Barron Sierra.