Comedero charges home in Mountain Valley

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Comedero gave his trainer, Michael Stidham, his second stakes win in less than a half-hour on Saturday, when he powered home by 4 1/2 lengths in the $60,000 Mountain Valley at Oaklawn Park. The win came on the heels of Tizaqueena's score at Fair Grounds in the $60,000 Allen Lacombe Memorial Handicap.

Comedero put on a show Saturday in what was his first start in his home state. He led a cavalry charge of rivals through an opening quarter-mile in 21.88 seconds, gave them the slip through a 45.55 half-mile, then had more in the lane as Backwater Blues closed for second and Activity Report finished third. Comedero ($5.80) covered the six furlongs for 3-year-olds in 1:10.22.

"I was told this colt's pretty quick, and he was," said Cliff Berry, who rode Comedero for the first time Saturday.

Stidham said Comedero is a candidate for the $50,000 Rainbow for 3-year-olds bred in Arkansas here March 28.

The Mountain Valley was the third stakes win for Comedero behind wins in the Old Hickory at Fair Grounds in November, and the Razorback Futurity at Louisiana Downs in October. He is a son of Posse and he is owned by Peter Redekop.

* Attendance ontrack Saturday was 17,122.