Budweiser Stakes may set up for a closer

As many as six of the eight older horses entered in the $50,000 Budweiser at Sunland Park on Saturday could be vying for the lead. It’s a pace recipe that could set the table for either Chuchuluco or Happy Humor.

Both horses have had success coming from off the pace, and both will be shortening up in distance for the five-furlong Budweiser.

Chuchuluco will be cutting back from 6 1/2 furlongs. He won the $120,000 Johnie Jamison at Sunland in his last start on Dec. 12. Chuchuluco raced on the lead, but before that used stalking tactics to win a 5 1/2-furlong allowance at Zia Park. Justin Shepherd has the mount for trainer Todd Fincher.

Happy Humor will be making his second start since last March. He returned to action in a $25,000 optional claimer at 5 1/2 furlongs on Dec. 29 at Sunland and rallied for fourth. He is a stakes winner at Sunland, too, having taken the $50,000 KLAQ from off the pace in December 2009. Miguel Hernandez rides for trainer Jon Arnett.