Evans trio stuck far outside in Albuquerque Distaff

The sheer numbers are stacked in trainer Justin Evans’s favor, but the luck of the draw did him no favors for Saturday’s $50,000 feature at the Downs at Albuquerque.

Evans has three of the nine fillies and mares in the lineup for the Albuquerque Distaff Handicap, but Sky Rant, Exposure, and Lady Contender must find a way to work out a good trip from the three outside post positions.

So far this meet, posts 7-9 are a collective 3 for 16 in one-mile races, with all three winners coming from post 7.

With a better draw, Lady Contender (post 9) would be a far lower price than her 6-1 morning-line odds. A 7-year-old mare, Lady Contender is a seven-time stakes winner, including the Distaff when it was contested at 6 1/2 furlongs in 2014.

The 4-year-old Exposure (post 8) will be racing beyond seven furlongs for the first time after 14 sprints. She was beaten a length as the 3-2 favorite in the seven-furlong Dr. O.G. Fischer Handicap on June 13.

The third part of Evans’s uncoupled entry, Sky Rant (post 7) is also making a rare start going two turns. She has been no better than third in three previous attempts going a mile and stretches out following a pair of 5 1/2-furlong sprints.

The field’s most intriguing longshot is Desert Gambler, a 4-year-old filly who faces open company for the first time following 14 starts against New Mexico-breds. Listed at 10-1, Desert Gambler has won three of her last four starts, including a one-mile allowance in front-running fashion last month.

The 5-year-old Warrens Puppy Love could go favored. She has been involved in the exacta in four of five starts locally and comes into the stakes off a win going a mile on July 3.