Forest Mouse, 9, on top of his game for San Juan County Commissioners

Forest Mouse will spot his rivals seven to 11 pounds on Monday, when he travels 1 1/8 miles as the 125-pound highweight in the $50,000 San Juan County Commissioners Handicap at SunRay Park.

The race highlights the final card of the meet in Farmington, N.M.

Forest Mouse, who is part of a seven-horse field, is on top of his game this year at age 9. He will be looking for his fourth stakes win on the year, his latest coming in the $30,000 SunRay Park Casino Handicap last out May 22.

“He doesn’t think he’s 9,” said trainer Henry Dominguez. “He just loves what he does. He loves going out there and doing what he’s bred to do. I think the older he gets, it seems like the better he’s doing.”

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KEY CONTENDERS

Forest Mouse, by Teton Forest
Last 3 Beyers: 93-89-85

◗ He has won four of his last five starts, including three stakes victories, among them the Winsham Lad and Curribot this past spring at Sunland Park. Overall, the horse is 25 for 58, with earnings of $933,687.

“It looks like he could be a horse that could earn $1 million mainly in a New Mexico campaign,” Dominguez said. “He deserves it. He’s just a hard campaigner who gives his best every time he goes out there. As long as he’s enjoying it, he deserves every opportunity to be a million-dollar earner.”

◗ Forest Mouse won over a mile last out at SunRay and will be testing his distance capabilities Monday.

“I think he is a better miler than anything, but being at that racetrack, at SunRay, going a mile and an eighth and having those short turns, he is comfortable there,” Dominguez said. “He’s a pretty well-balanced horse, gets around [that track] pretty good.”

◗ Forest Mouse won this race in 2012 and was a 1 1/8-mile stakes winner at Zia Park.

◗ Forest Mouse won last month’s SunRay Park Casino Handicap under the same 125-pound impost as Monday’s by a half-length over Overland Park. “He spotted them the same the last time,” Dominguez said. “He’s not overburdened. He already proved he can do it once. I don’t think doing that again, carrying that weight, should be a problem.”

◗ Alfredo Juarez has the mount from post 2 for Solitaire Stable.

“He’ll be laying closer than he generally does, but he’s comfortable with that,” Dominguez said. “He’ll be forwardly placed.”

Overland Park, by Snow Ridge
Last 3 Beyers: 92-86-84

◗ He will get seven pounds from Forest Mouse, starting at 118 pounds Monday off his runner-up finish in the SunRay Park Casino Handicap.

◗ Earlier this year, Overland Park was second to Forest Mouse in the Curribot at Sunland.

◗ Duane Sterling has the mount for trainer Nancy Summers.