Glory Be Mine goes for eighth straight win in $120,000 co-feature

Glory Be Mine will be facing some of her toughest rivals to date on Sunday, when she attempts to win her eighth straight race in the $120,000 New Mexico State Racing Commission. The six-furlong handicap drew 12 fillies and mares and will be part of a stakes doubleheader at Sunland Park. The $120,000 Johnie L. Jamison is for 3-year-olds and up at 6 1/2 furlongs, and like its co-feature, it is restricted to horses bred in New Mexico.

Glory Be Mine began building her win streak at Ruidoso Downs in July 2009, when she won a trial race for the $125,000 Rio Grande Senorita Futurity. She proceeded to win the finale, and has taken four other stakes during her streak. The latest came on Oct. 31, when she won the $151,000 New Mexico Cup Filly for 3-year-olds at Zia Park.

“This is probably the toughest race she’s ever been in,” said Todd Fincher, who trains Glory be Mine for Bobby McQueen and Dale Taylor. “There’s a lot of quality fillies in there. I think she’s going to run good. She’s training good. She’s healthy. I expect a good race out of her, like always.”

Fincher said he believes Glory Be Mine has reason to move forward off the New Mexico Cup, when she eked out a half-length win. It was her second start following a seven-month layoff. In her comeback, Glory Be Mine had won a $35,000 optional claimer at Zia on Sept. 26, with a career-high Beyer Figure of 81.

“I think she bounced on me last time,” Fincher said of the New Mexico Cup. “She just didn’t run the race I was expecting. This will be third start off the layoff. I do expect this to be her best race so far this year.”

The chief threat is Cali Baby, who won the $182,000 New Mexico Cup Filly and Mare by nine lengths Oct. 31. She will be cutting back from a mile, and is seeking her fourth straight stakes win. Alfredo Juarez has the mount, while Joe Martinez has the mount on Glory Be Mine.

The Jamison field drew the winners of three different New Mexico Cup stakes Oct. 31.

“It’s a very good race,” Fincher said. “It’s all the top 3-year-olds and top older horses coming together.”

Fincher will send out Smash Dancer, winner of the Sprint, and Chuchuluco, who was third by a head in the Colts and Geldings. Train Rider Blues won that stakes for 3-year-olds, and he returns in the Jamison. The Jamison also drew Classic winner Double Smart.