Concord Fast, Dad meet in Riley Allison on closing day
Concord Fast will shake a sharp rival in Collected on Tuesday, when he runs in the $100,000 Riley Allison at Sunland Park in New Mexico. The one-mile race for 3-year-olds also drew Dad, a son of the undefeated millionaire mare Peppers Pride.
The Riley Allison closes out the meet. Sunland extended its season into May this year after missing some of its dates due to an outbreak of the equine herpesvirus. The Riley Allison was among the stakes that had to be rescheduled. It will be supported Tuesday by the $65,000 El Paso Times and the $125,584 Copper Top Futurity.
Concord Fast hooked Collected in the $415,000 Sunland Festival of Racing Stakes in his last start March 20, finishing third behind that rival, who would go on to capture the Grade 3 Lexington at Keeneland. Gettysburg was second in the Sunland Festival and in his next start set a strong pace in the Arkansas Derby before finishing a good fifth April 16.
“I was happy to see how good those horses came back and ran,” said Justin Evans, who trains Concord Fast.
K P Wildcat, who ran on the undercard of the Sunland Festival, finishing third in the $200,000 Plum Pretty, leads the El Paso Times. She will be cutting back to one turn for the 6 1/2-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies. The last time K P Wildcat sprinted, she was an 11-length allowance winner at Sunland.
In the Copper Top Futurity, the probable favorite is Blooming Heat off a 1 1/2-length trial win in her debut April 17 at Sunland. She will be facing males in the 4 1/2-furlong finale but defeated such rivals in her trial. Blooming Heat owns the field’s best career Beyer Speed Figure, a 62.
Riley Allison (race 10)
KEY CONTENDERS
Concord Fast, by Concord Point
Last 3 Beyers: 76-76-55
◗ He started the Sunland meet with a four-length win in the $100,000 Mine That Bird, a one-mile race Feb. 26. Concord Fast then came back in the Sunland Festival and stalked behind Collected and Gettysburg.
“He’s doing so good, came out of the race super,” Evans said. “He ran a great race, loomed up to two really good horses, just couldn’t get by them.”
◗ Since that start, Concord Fast shows some sharp works, among them a bullet half-mile in 46.40 seconds April 11 and five-eighths in a bullet 59.80 seconds in his last drill April 26.
“He’s had a little time in between races,” Evans said. “This horse runs a little better fresh. His work tab’s been sensational. He went a really sharp five-eighths the other day, galloped out three-quarters. I couldn’t ask him to be coming in any better.”
◗ The move from 1 1/8 miles to a mile should be in Concord Fast’s favor.
“I think a mile, a mile and a sixteenth is right in his wheelhouse,” said Evans.
◗ Concord Fast, who races for Teed Off Stable, will break from post 4 under Ry Eikleberry.
Cowboy Cool, by Divine Park
Last 3 Beyers: 62-52-70
◗ He was second to Concord Fast in the Mine That Bird Derby and appears to be the chief threat Tuesday.
◗ Cowboy Cool enters the Riley Allison off a runner-up finish in a Sunland allowance sprint April 12.
Dad, by Malibu Moon
Last 3 Beyers: 53-68-66
◗ He was a maiden special weight winner at a mile in his last start April 13 at Sunland. Earlier in the meet, he ran fourth in the Mine That Bird.
◗ Dad is a developing 3-year-old, said trainer Joel Marr.
“He’s not completely focused,” he said. “He’s not got his mind where it needs to be all the time. I think he’s going to improve every time. We’ll see how much improvement we get.”
◗ Marr trained Dad’s dam, Peppers Pride, and said she is in foal to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.