Forrest G. can move ahead of pack

Many of the 10 horses in Sunland's $166,933 Riley Allison Futurity on Saturday have taken turns beating one another. The 6 1/2-furlong race for 2-year-olds is a chance for some horse to step up and away from the crowd, and that horse might well be Forrest G.

has looked like a new horse since coming to New Mexico from Lone Star Park in Texas. He just missed winning an allowance race at Zia Park, losing by a nose at 15-1 to El Salvador, one of his Saturday opponents. He then bounced back at Sunland on Dec. 13 and won an allowance sprint. That day Forrest G. dueled for the early lead, put away the other speed horses, including a number of his foes on Saturday, and drew off to win handily. He earned a 75 Beyer Speed Figure. Joe Martinez rides Forrest G. for trainer Jimmie Claridge.

finished third, two lengths behind Forrest G., in the allowance dash on Dec. 13 as the 2-5 favorite. Cab, trained by Steve Asmussen, dogged the pace and loomed a big threat into the lane, but couldn't go with Forrest G. in the final furlong. That was his first race over this track after having raced in New York, Kentucky, and Florida, so he might be set to give his best now. Brian Peck rides.

ran second in that same race on Dec. 13. Trained by George Coleman, Disappearing Trick stalked the pace in midpack and put in a run to finish more than two lengths behind Forrest G. and a neck in front of Cab. Ken Tohill rides Disappearing Trick again for trainer Henry Dominguez.

Might Be Hooked rallied gamely to defeat a number of the horses in Saturday's field in an allowance sprint at Sunland, also on Dec. 13. Might Be Hooked has won at Ruidoso Downs in Albuquerque and at Sunland. Brian Murphy rides for Johnnie Nall, who is Might Be Hooked's trainer and co-owner.

El Salvador stalked the pace and battled gamely through the lane to upset Forrest G. on Nov. 24 at Zia Park. The Joe Webster-trained El Salvador came back to be a rallying third behind Might Be Hooked here Dec. 13. Alfredo Juarez Jr. rides again for trainer Jon Arnett.