Cinco Charlie dominates Riley Allison Derby

Cinco Charlie proved much the best in his two-turn debut on Saturday, when he rolled to an 8 1/2-length win in the $100,000 Riley Allison Derby at Sunland Park in New Mexico. Made Me Talk finished second, 1 1/4 lengths clear of third-place finisher Dirt Monster.

The Riley Allison had traditionally been a year-ending futurity each December at Sunland, but it was moved to a January date this meet to serve as a stepping-stone to the track’s Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby in March.

Cinco Charlie ($2.40) broke on top in the one-mile Riley Allison, and took the field through fractions of 21.88 seconds for the opening quarter, 45.62 for the half-mile, and 1:11.30 for six furlongs. He went on to cover the distance on a track rated fast in 1:38.18.

In for the Money was taken up in the Riley Allison.

Casey Lambert was aboard Cinco Charlie for Heiligbrodt Racing Stable and trainer Steve Asmussen.

Cinco Charlie earned $60,000 for the win, his fifth victory in a stakes and sixth career win in nine starts. Cinco Charlie has now earned $335,802. He is a son of Indian Charlie and was bred in Kentucky by Candyland Farm.