Evans entry dangerous duo in Bold Ego
Trainer Justin Evans has shifted the focus of his operation recently and will attempt to start the new year on a meaningful note Saturday, when he sends out Belleofthebeach and Cassy Sue in the $65,000 Bold Ego Handicap at Sunland Park.
Belleofthebeach is the 123-pound highweight for the 5 1/2-furlong race for fillies and mares, while Cassy Sue is chasing her third straight win. They help form an eight-horse field that also includes the multiple stakes winner African Rose and the Turf Paradise shipper Small Moves.
Evans, a 32-year-old native of Chino Valley, Ariz., closed out a stellar 2015 on Thursday. He ranked 11th in wins in North America with 168 and took down training titles at four of the five tracks in New Mexico, including his current base of Sunland.
“It was a good year overall,” Evans said. “We were down a little bit wins-wise, but we’re in the rebuilding process. We’re trying to get some better horses. We’re cutting back on the quantity a little bit to try to get quality.”
Bold Ego, Race 9
KEY CONTENDERS
Belleofthebeach (Last 3 Beyers: 71-91-84)
◗ One of the quality runners for the Evans barn, she will be seeking her fifth stakes win Saturday.
“She won the Bold Ego as a 3-year-old,” Evans said. “She likes Sunland, likes the track, and it looks like she could get the right pace setup. It looks like there could be a fast pace.”
◗ Belleofthebeach will be shortening up some in distance off a fourth-place finish in the $108,000 Zia Park Distaff on Nov. 25.
“She ran a good race, kind of had a bad trip, was kind of in tight late,” Evans said.
◗ One start earlier, Belleofthebeach was a nine-length winner of the $55,000 Chaves County at Zia.
Cassy Sue (Last 3 Beyers: 85-72-48)
◗ She has won her last two races by a combined 14 1/2 lengths.
◗ “She won eight in a row [in 2014],” Evans said. “She’s so fast, and this is her perfect distance. She really likes the 5 1/2.”