Blamed streaking into Sunland Park Oaks

Blamed will be seeking to win her fifth straight race Sunday in the $200,000 Sunland Park Oaks, and it’s worth noting that her trainer, Joel Marr, is an expert on keeping streaks alive. It was Marr who guided Peppers Pride through a 19-for-19 career, and some of the same protocols he followed with her are being applied to Blamed.

“They’re all different, but some of the basic things are to cover all your bases every time you enter and don’t enter if you’re not ready,” Marr said. “This filly, knock on wood, is solid. She’s been doing really well for quite a while.

“I really like the way she’s been training since her last start, and we’re hoping for the best.”

The five-horse Sunland Oaks will dole out 85 qualifying points for the Kentucky Oaks among the first four finishers on a scale of 50-20-10-5. The 1 1/16-mile race is part of a program of seven stakes topped by the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby. Purses for the program total $1.5 million, making the 12-race card the richest of the meet at Sunland, which is just across the border from El Paso, Texas.

Sunland Park Oaks (Race 6)

KEY CONTENDERS

Blamed, by Blame
Last 3 Beyers: 78-75-63

◗ She has won four of five career starts, with her wins coming by a combined margin of 24 1/2 lengths. Her streak started at Zia Park in a maiden special weight Oct. 31 and a first-level allowance Dec. 5. Blamed then moved to Sunland and won the $65,000 El Paso Times on Jan. 28 and the $75,000 Island Fashion in her two-turn debut Feb. 25.

“I thought she ran an extremely nice race,” Marr said of the Island Fashion. “They went fairly fast on the front end, and she was up on the front end with another horse and seemed to just have plenty left and finished up very strong.”

◗ Blamed, who has won all of her races on the lead, is a composed individual, said Marr.

“She’s very calm, collected, professional about everything,” he said.

◗ Ken Tohill has the mount from post 4 for owner Cleber Massey.

Charge Back, by Take Charge Indy
Last 3 Beyers: 68-53-51

◗ She invades from Sam Houston, where she won an entry-level allowance over seven furlongs Feb. 20. Charge Back won her debut at a mile last September at Remington. She is making her stakes debut Sunday.

“Big step up for her,” said trainer Steve Asmussen. “She’s a filly that’s 2 for 3 that physically has developed a lot. I know the water is deep for her, but she is a filly that has physically changed a lot in the last three, four months, and her pedigree suggested she would.”

Charge Back is out of Jackpot Joanie, a half-sister to Kentucky Oaks winner Summerly. She races for her breeder, Winchell Thoroughbreds, and will be ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr.

Kram, by Colonel John
Last 3 Beyers: 67-50-66

◗ She was second to Blamed in the Island Fashion, and came out of the race with an abscess in a foot, according to trainer Todd Fincher.

“Kram is doing tremendous right now,” he said. “I do expect her to run a much better race.”