Code West invades for Downs at Albuquerque Handicap

Code West will start as a notable highweight Sunday in the $100,000 Downs at Albuquerque Handicap, but trainer Boyd Caster is taking nothing for granted with the Oklahoma-based runner invading New Mexico. Code West is part of an eight-horse field for the 1 1/8-mile race that ranks as the richest Thoroughbred offering at Albuquerque. It will be supported by a pair of six-furlong, $80,000 stakes for 2-year-olds bred in New Mexico.

Code West is the 123-pound highweight Sunday, spotting his rivals two to seven pounds, off a half-length win in the $175,000 Governor’s Cup at his home base of Remington Park. He was to ship to New Mexico on Friday – about a seven-hour trip, Caster estimated Thursday.

“There’s some tough horses out there,” Caster said. “Ol Winedrinker Who looks like he’s right on his game. Isn’t He Clever. I’m going to their backyard and playing. It’s kind of like the home-team advantage. They got the home-team advantage.”

Key contenders

Code West (Last 3 Beyers: 95-95-90)

* He rallied to win the Governor’s Cup, which was his first start after being privately purchased by Bryan Hawk. Caster said he was delighted with the win, as he had been anxious to see how Code West would adapt to his new digs in Oklahoma.

“We had him about a month before that race, and you’re real skeptical about things – going to a different barn, a different feeding program, a different training program,” Caster said. “You’re thinking, at least me personally, ‘I hope this horse runs good. I’ve just had a client buy this nice horse.’ I wanted a big performance out of him. I was just thrilled.”

* In his final prep for the Albuquerque Handicap, Code West breezed five-eighths in a bullet 58.80 seconds Sept. 13 at Remington. Caster said the horse worked by himself under Cliff Berry, who has the mount again Sunday.

“He’s done everything we’ve asked, even more,” Caster said of Code West. “Once we kind of found out the way this horse likes to train, he just does it with a lot of enthusiasm. He’s real proud of himself when he trains. Seems like he takes training personally.”

* Code West will break from post 3.

“This horse, he’s a stayer,” Caster said. “I’m sure there’s going to be some pace in there. I just hope he gets a good trip and stays in a good stalking position where they don’t get too far away from him. The ideal trip is to sit there about third, a couple of lengths off the leaders, then try to go battle with them down the lane and make a good horse race out of it.”

Ol Winedrinker Who (Last 3 Beyers: 90-96-85)

* The winner of two stakes in his last two starts, he will carry the second-highest weight at 120 pounds and is returning to a distance that has produced his best Beyer Speed Figures.