King's Water Lilly goes longer in stakes

Even though King's Water Lilly will be making her two-turn debut Sunday in the $125,000 Enchantress at Sunland Park, she should start as a strong favorite in the one-mile race for 2-year-old fillies bred in New Mexico. She not only owns Beyer Speed Figures that are superior to the competition but also was second last month to arguably the best horse in her division, Glory Be Mine.

And with Glory Be Mine sitting out the Enchantress to await an upcoming sprint stakes, the focus Sunday will be on King's Water Lilly. She ran one of the best races of her career last out in the $149,000 New Mexico Cup Juvenile Fillies, when second to Glory Be Mine.

King's Water Lilly was beaten 1 1/4 lengths in that six-furlong stakes, which was run at Zia on Nov. 8. She earned a 62 Beyer, a number that is at least 12 points higher than the last-race Beyer earned by each of her seven rivals in the Enchantress.

Prior to the New Mexico Cup, King's Water Lilly won an allowance at Zia, closing from last for a more than seven-length win. Her ability to come from off the pace should serve her well Sunday as she might get a stalking trip off the front-runners Avenue of Tears and Please N Teras. As for pedigree support for the two turns, King's Water Lilly is by a son of Seattle Slew and is a half-sister to Band Champ, who was stakes placed at a mile. Rico Flores has the mount for 4 Eagles Racing Stables and trainer Rodney Richards.

Other top contenders making up the field include Wild Time Tonight, who was stakes placed in September at The Downs at Albuquerque; and Justa Prospect, who was up for a neck win in a one-mile maiden special weight in her career debut Nov. 10.