Comfy Lead strong in Dine

Comfy Lead, winner of a New Mexico-bred allowance in his last start, will likely be favored in the $75,000 Dine Stakes at SunRay Park on Saturday. He will face nine statebred 3-year-old colts and geldings in the 6 1/2-furlong Dine. Saturday's 11-race card also includes the $75,000 Totah Futurity for New Mexico-bred 2-year-olds.

Comfy Lead has been no worse than third in his last nine starts since winning his maiden last August. In his most recent start, on May 2, he rallied from just off the pace to win by 1 1/4 lengths. Miguel Perez will break Comfy Lead from post 10 for trainer Fred Danley and owners Edna Montano and Michael Malouff Jr.

Playingwithchimes, a Chimes Band gelding owned by Margaret duPont and Margaret Bloss, had never finished worse than third in nine starts until he turned in a dull effort in the New Mexico Breeders' Derby in March at Sunland Park. His wins include the Ruidoso Thoroughbred Futurity, and he also has finished second once and third twice in other New Mexico-bred stakes. Leading rider Alejandro Medellin has the mount for trainer

J. Owen Bringhurst.

* Ballado's Bullet, second in Sunland's Copper Top Futurity in April, heads a field of 10 juveniles in the 4 1/2-furlong Totah Futurity. Ballado's Bullet has a 3-1-1-1 record. Patrick Valenzuela, who rode five winners here last Sunday, will be back in from Louisiana to ride for trainer Jaime Aldavaz.

First post Saturday is 2:15 p.m. Mountain.