Fear the Cowboy's Florida form points him out in Sunland Park Handicap

The $150,000 Sunland Park Handicap has brought together an accomplished group of older horses, including Fear the Cowboy, Neck ‘n Neck, and Forest Mouse. The cast of 10 has won a collective 33 stakes races, including six graded events, and has earned more than $4 million.

The Sunland Handicap, at 1 1/8 miles, is the final stakes of the meet, which closes Tuesday. It shares Sunday’s card with the $110,000 Copper Top Futurity for 2-year-olds bred in New Mexico.

Fear the Cowboy figures to go favored in the Sunland Handicap following his sharp win in the Grade 3 Skip Away on March 25 at Gulfstream Park. The following week, he was able to make flight connections to New Mexico.

“The horse came back good after the last race, and we were able to fly him in,” said trainer Efren Loza Jr. “The horse has been training over the track more than two weeks. He looks ready for the race. I think he likes the track.”

Loza said the main reason to target the Sunland Handicap was that it covers the same distance as the Skip Away.

“He likes the distance, the mile and an eighth,” said Loza.

Fear the Cowboy is a son of Cowboy Cal who races for Kathleen Amaya and Raffaele Centofanti. He is a seven-time winner from 20 starts. Loza said the other spring objective for the horse is the Grade 3, $200,000 Lone Star Park Handicap.

Jesus Rios has the mount from post 3.

Neck ‘n Neck is the most accomplished member of the field as a Grade 2 winner and an earner of $1.1 million. He is a four-time stakes winner, with all of those victories coming in graded races. Neck ‘n Neck will be making his third start off a layoff, having launched his season March 10 at Oaklawn with a runner-up finish in a $50,000 optional claimer before running third at a similar level there April 1.

Alfredo Juarez Jr. has the mount for owner Clark Brewster and trainer Steve Asmussen.

Forest Mouse is the 123-pound highweight for the Sunland Handicap. He is seeking to win his fourth straight race in his fourth start at the meet. Forest Mouse won an optional $20,000 claiming race Dec. 30, the $65,000 Winsham Lad on Jan. 21, and the $75,000 Curribot on Feb. 26.

Overall, the 9-year-old by Teton Forest is a 12-time stakes winner and has earned $900,687. Ry Eikleberry has the mount from the rail for trainer Henry Dominguez.

The field also includes Ol Winedrinker Who, an eight-time stakes winner, and Jessica’s Star, a Grade 3 winner. American Dubai is an up-and-coming sort who seeks his fourth straight win and his first in a stakes race. He set a Sunland track record for a mile on March 7, winning an optional $25,000 claiming race in 1:34.50. Ken Tohill has the mount for trainer Rodney Richards.

◗ The Copper Top, at 4 1/2 furlongs, goes with a field of 10. Red Raider wired the field for a 6 1/4-length score in his trial on March 25. Juarez has the mount for trainer Todd Fincher.

The field also includes P.J.’s Gold, who also was a trial winner and owns the field’s best Beyer Speed Figure, a 58, and Happy Resources, who was second in his trial. Happy Resources is out of the mare Happy Me, a multiple stakes winner and an earner of $350,566.