Cape Time getting good now as expected

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Cape Time was purchased with the idea that he would develop later in his 3-year-old season. And he has. Cape Time won his first stakes earlier this month, and will be looking for his second on Saturday when he takes Poni Colada and Real Appeal in the $75,000 Alysheba Breeders' Cup at Lone Star Park.

The one-mile race is for 3-year-olds, and it drew a field of seven.

Cape Time comes into the Alysheba off a one-length win in the $50,000 SunRay Park Casino Handicap at SunRay Park in Farmington, N.M., on June 8. It was the second win for the horse, who in April ran second in the $50,000 Grand Prairie Turf Challenge at Lone Star.

"We bought him as a 2-year-old, and everybody sort of thought he'd be a late-developing 3-year-old," said Chris Hartman, who trains Cape Time for Black Hawk Stable.

"The horse has matured so much in his last few races, mentally and physically. I think the horse is getting better, getting stronger mentally and physically."

Cape Time stalked the pace in the SunRay Casino, and covered the mile in a solid time of 1:37.20.

"It was a good race for him," said Hartman. "It was a good little confidence builder. The horse is coming up to the race beautifully. He's trained well since coming back from Farmington."

Ken Tohill has the mount.

Poni Colada has registered both of his stakes wins in New Mexico. The first came last November in the $67,000 Eddy County at Zia Park. He then won the $100,000 Borderland Derby at Sunland Park in February.

Poni Colada last raced on May 10, and finished 12th in the Grade 3, $400,000 Lone Star Derby, a race in which he encountered some trouble. Before that, he ran second by a head in the $75,000 Northern Spur at Oaklawn on April 12. He earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 90, and would be tough to handle with a repeat of that performance Saturday. Eddie Martin Jr. has the mount for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Real Appeal, who won the $50,000 Texas Heritage at Sam Houston in March, also exits the Lone Star Derby, a race in which he finished 10th after a wide trip. He worked a bullet five furlongs in 1:01 at Churchill Downs on June 20 in his final prep for the Alysheba. Lone Star leading rider Cliff Berry has the mount for trainer Tom Amoss.

* The 9-year-old King of Speed will be looking for his fourth straight win in the eighth race, a $35,000 optional claimer at a mile on dirt.