Belleofthebeach risks streak vs. older in Chaves County

Belleofthebeach will be stepping outside the confines of the 3-year-old ranks for the first time Monday, when she attempts to win her fifth straight race in the $55,000 Chaves County at Zia Park in Hobbs, N.M. She is one of six fillies and mares in the one-mile stakes, which also drew Remington Park invader Molly’s Honour and four-time stakes winner African Rose.

Belleofthebeach began her streak in February, with back-to-back allowance wins at Sunland Park. She did not resume racing again until August, when she captured the $50,000 Aspen Cup at Ruidoso Downs. Belleofthebeach then accounted for the $50,000 Casino Downs Handicap at the Downs at Albuquerque in her most recent out Sept. 13.

KEY CONTENDERS

Belleofthebeach (Last 3 Beyers: 81-76-79)

* She breaks from the rail under Irwin Rosendo, and might prove to be the one these will have to catch on the stretchout from a quick 6 1/2-furlong race to a mile.

* Belleofthebeach was a 6 1/4-length winner in the lone two-turn start of her career, a mile allowance at Sunland on Feb. 25. She entered off a sprint score, and wired the field.

* Justin Evans trains Belleofthebeach, a daughter of Master Command, for Teed Off Stable.

African Rose (Last 3 Beyers: 51-82-84)

* She returned from a more than 2 1/2-month layoff last out and ran fourth in the $40,000 Molly Brown at Arapahoe Park.

* The six-furlong Molly Borwn has become a key race. The winner, Lady Jila, returned in her next start to take the $40,000 Columbine at Arapahoe with a Beyer Figure of 84, and the runner-up and sixth-place finishers came back to win allowances at Arapahoe.

* African Rose is stretching back out to the distance of her last win, which came in the $75,000 Harry Henson Handicap March 23.

* Alfredo Juarez Jr., has the mount for Judge Lanier Racing and Evans.

Molly’s Honour (Last 3 Beyers: 83-87-88)

* She’s moving back to dirt, and while she is a stakes winner on the grass, she’s also a multiple winner on the main track and was stakes-placed on dirt last season at Lone Star Park.

* She worked five furlongs in a sharp 1:00 on Remington’s main track Sept. 18.

* Enrique Gomez has the mount for Joe Davis and trainer Chris Hartman.