Cinco Charlie is easily the class of Riley Allison field

Cinco Charlie will be a strong favorite at Sunland Park in New Mexico on Saturday, when he makes his two-turn debut against seven others in the $100,000 Riley Allison. He is seeking his third straight stakes score in the one-mile race for 3-year-olds that begins the march toward the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby.

The Riley Allison had long been a year-ending futurity for 2-year-olds, but this meet Sunland moved the race to January and made it part of its 3-year-old series that includes the Mine That Bird Derby. Others signed on to face Cinco Charlie include Dirt Monster, a stakes-placed runner also making his first start around two turns, and Rousanne, a filly who was third in last year’s Debutante at Churchill Downs.

Cinco Charlie won the Grade 3 Bashford Manor at Churchill in June and in more recent times has picked up victories in the $100,000 James F. Lewis III at Laurel in November and the $50,000 Sugar Bowl at Fair Grounds in December. The colt is good-minded, one of several qualities that should help him with the task at hand, said his trainer, Steve Asmussen.

“It’s his first two turns,” Asmussen said. “He’s very mature. He’s shipped to run. He’s got plenty of ability, and the way Sunland plays, I think it’s the right spot to try him two turns.”

KEY CONTENDERS

Cinco Charlie (Last 3 Beyers: 97-91-91)

◗ Boasts a 5-for-8 record, with four of his wins coming in stakes. He also was Grade 2-placed in October, when he finished third by a length in the Futurity at Belmont Park.

“He’s a very fun horse to run,” said Asmussen, who trains Cinco Charlie for Heiligbrodt Racing Stable. “He’s strong. He’s mature. He’s very competitive. He’s all personality.”

◗ Cinco Charlie is a son of Indian Charlie. His dam, the Marquetry mare Ten Halos, is a half-sister to My Pal Charlie, winner of the Grade 2 Super Derby; Bwana Bull, winner of the Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby; and Bwana Charlie, winner of the Grade 2 Amsterdam.

◗ Glen Murphy has the mount on Cinco Charlie, who figures to be prominent from his rail post Saturday.

“He’s fast,” said Asmussen.

Dirt Monster (Last 3 Beyers: 60-85-67)

◗ He has never run worse than third, which he finished in his debut that came in a stakes at The Downs at Albuquerque in August.

◗ Dirt Monster enters the Riley Allison off a runner-up finish in a Sunland allowance sprint on Jan. 4.

◗ Ry Eikleberry has the mount for Tony Pennington and trainer Justin Evans.