Arapahoe Park: Streakin' Mohican a swift one

It takes a quick Thoroughbred to beat Quarter Horses at 870 yards, and in doing so last out, Streakin' Mohican has established himself as the one to catch Sunday in the $40,000 Arapahoe Park Sprint. He will face 10 others in the six-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up, including multiple stakes winners Hezamazing and Wally Van.

Streakin' Mohican also is a multiple stakes winner, among his scores last season's Arapahoe Sprint. In addition, the 870-yard race he won at Turf Paradise in his most recent out April 28 was a small stakes. Streakin' Mohican broke on top and went on to a 4 1/2-length win, covering the distance on a fast track in 44.39 seconds.

"He missed the track record by nine one-hundredths that day, under a hand ride," said Bill Brashears, who trains Streakin' Mohican for Rosette Racing.

Brashears said the start against Quarter Horses became an option because there were no other suitable races for Streakin' Mohican in advance of a defense of his title in the Arapahoe Sprint. The horse will break from post 5 on Sunday, under Dennis Collins.

"I'm hoping we're on the lead and we just carry it all the way," Brashears said. "That's his game. That's the way he wants to run."

Streakin' Mohican used the same tactics in last year's Arapahoe Sprint, when he won by four lengths in 1:08.40. In his final prep for Sunday, he worked a bullet half-mile in 48.40 seconds over the local strip May 22. Streakin' Mohican is a 6-year-old gelding by Songandaprayer and a half-brother to Grade 2 winner Adios Charlie.

Hezamazing, an 8-year-old who has won 14 of 46 starts, will be cutting back to a sprint distance after running sixth in the $75,000 Sunland Park Handicap at 1 1/8 miles on April 14. He is a 10-time winner at Arapahoe, and last season won two local stakes, the Front Range and the Arapahoe Park Classic.

Wally Van won last year's Aspen at Araphaoe, where he is 7 for 12.

The chief pace threat to Streakin' Mohican appears to be Tebow Time, a front-running sprinter making his first start since September.