Isn’t He Clever on fence for San Juan County Commissioners Handicap
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
Isn’t He Clever will play a key role in the $75,000 San Juan County Commissioners Handicap whether or not he runs in the Tuesday feature at SunRay Park in Farmington, N.M. Trainer Henry Dominguez said a decision on the horse’s status likely would be made on Monday. Isn’t He Clever also is being considered for the $100,000 Ruidoso Downs Thoroughbred Championship on Sept. 7.
The San Juan County Commissioners Handicap is for 3-year-olds and up over 1 1/8 miles. Isn’t He Clever is the 123-pound highweight in the race, which drew a field of 10. Others making up the field include multiple stakes winners Rebranded and Stachys as well as recent Arapahoe Park Classic winner Bourbon Sense.
Isn’t He Clever is the horse to beat if he runs. If he skips the race, Rebranded has a chance to control the pace. Dominguez on Friday said the Ruidoso Downs Thoroughbred Championship at 1 1/16 miles was being strongly considered for Isn’t He Clever. Entries for that race were to be taken Monday.
“We’re leaning in that direction, but we’re going to wait a couple of days to make a decision,” said Dominguez, who trains Isn’t He Clever for J. Kirk and Judy Robison. “I think he prefers the mile and a sixteenth. Ruidoso, he likes that track. He knows it well and trains on it.”
San Juan County Commissioners (Race 8)
KEY CONTENDERS
Isn’t He Clever (Last 3 Beyers: 84-80-90)
◗ He was second by a neck Aug. 9 in the allowance prep for this race, in which he was an odds-on favorite.
“It had been a couple months since he’d run, and he probably needed a race,” Dominguez said.
◗ Enrique Gomez has the mount from the rail Tuesday.
Rebranded (Last 3 Beyers: 74-56-80)
◗ He exits the same one-mile allowance prep as Isn’t He Clever and ran third. The start was Rebranded’s first since June 13.
◗ Rebranded has done his best work on the front end, and depending on the break, he could find himself on a lonely lead with the quick Bourbon Sense coming out of a 1 1/8-mile race at Arapahoe.
◗ Rebranded, who also can track he pace, is a winner at SunRay. He has worked sharply over the local surface this summer for trainer Justin Evans. Alfredo Juarez Jr. has the mount from post 5 for Rachel Marzak.
Draw for All American Futurity
There will be a ceremonial draw Thursday at Ruidoso Downs for the $3 million All American Futurity for Quarter Horses. The race will close out the meet Sept. 7. The field will be comprised of the 10 fastest qualifiers from the 34 trials run Aug. 21-22. Entries for the race were to be taken Monday.
One Fabulous Eagle was the fastest qualifier on Day 1 of the trials, and First Valiant Sign set the standard on Day 2. The horses with the five fastest times from each program earned spots in the gate in the All American Futurity. The 440-yard race will have a record purse for 2015.