Latest stop on Orphan Brigade tour

Orphan Brigade has shown he can handle just about any track, as evidenced by wins at Lone Star, Remington, Hawthorne, and Zia Park. The 4-year-old Orphan Brigade comes to Sunland Park for Saturday's $50,000 KLAQ Handicap, the first Thoroughbred stakes of the meet, which began Friday. Orphan Brigade carries high weight of 123 pounds and faces six others in the 5 1/2-furlong event.

Trained by Robert Brewer and owned by Richard Barroso and Ronald Trent, Orphan Brigade has won 11 of 30, and is riding a three-race win streak. He easily won an allowance turf sprint at Remington, romped by more than 10 against optional claimers at Hawthorne, and most recently won the Eillo Oct. 31 at Zia Park. He dueled early in the Eillo and drew off to win by more than a length as the odds-on favorite, beating a number of Saturday's entrants. Cliff Lambert has the mount.

Boots Are Walking, recently claimed for $40,000 by trainer Steve Asmussen, is part of a two-ply entry with Halo's Tiger. Boots Are Walking, owned by J. Kirk Robison, boasts wins at Hawthorne, Arlington, and Keeneland this season. He was a late-running third in a turf sprint at Churchill Downs Nov. 17 and was claimed by Asmussen, who is the defending training champ at Sunland. Brian Peck rides at 119 pounds.

Peck is also named on the other half of the entry, Halo's Tiger, likewise owned by Robison. He comes off a smart win over $20,000 claimers at Churchill Downs and also was claimed by Asmussen.

Lorenzon is another threat. He was second behind Orphan Brigade in the Eillo. He's worked well since and he won the last time he raced here. Alfredo Juarez Jr. rides at 121 pounds.