Cinco Charlie has momentum going into Mine That Bird Derby

Cinco Charlie has accomplished more than most young horses as a five-time stakes winner, and he will be out to keep the good times rolling Saturday at Sunland Park in the $100,000 Mine That Bird Derby. The 1 1/16-race is the final local stepping-stone to the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby on March 22.

A field of six was entered in the Mine That Bird, including Southern California shipper Rockinatten and the promising Dirt Monster. But favoritism will side with Cinco Charlie, the winner of the Grade 3 Bashford Manor last year at Churchill Downs who is chasing his fourth straight stakes win Saturday.

Cinco Charlie enters the Mine That Bird Derby off an 8 1/2-length win in the $104,800 Riley Allison Derby at Sunland on Jan. 24. The one-mile race was an important test for Cinco Charlie, a Triple Crown nominee who races for Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt and is trained by Steve Asmussen.

“It’s what we were hoping for going two turns,” Asmussen said of Cinco Charlie handling more distance in his first attempt over a route of ground. “He was pressed hard early and was still enough horse to overcome it and win pretty handily.”

KEY CONTENDERS

Cinco Charlie (Last 3 Beyers: 83-94-91)

◗ He invades from Sam Houston Race Park, where he has been working since the Riley Allison. In his final prep for Saturday, he breezed a half-mile in 49.60 seconds on a good track, the fourth-fastest move from 43 at the distance Feb. 17.

“We took him back to Houston,” Asmussen said. “With the Heiligbrodts being residents of Houston, they could watch him train and such.”

◗ Cinco Charlie was pointed for the Sunland series because Asmussen said he felt the track’s surface best suited the horse. Cinco Charlie is quick, and he has had all of his success on the front end.

◗ Cinco Charlie’s stakes streak began at Laurel in November in the James F. Lewis III and has continued with the Sugar Bowl at Fair Grounds in December and the Riley Allison.

◗ Casey Lambert has the mount from post 5.

Rockinatten (Last 3 Beyers: 81-70-86)

◗ He enters off a third-place finish to the well-regarded Prospect Park in an optional $80,000 claimer at a mile at Santa Anita on Jan. 30.

◗ Drayden Van Dyke has the mount for trainer Doug O’Neill.