Liberty Lover risks streak in Pepsi Cola

Liberty Lover will seek to win his fifth straight race Saturday, when he takes on 10 others in the $85,000 Pepsi Cola at Sunland Park. The six-furlong race is restricted to 3-year-olds bred in New Mexico.

Pepsi Cola (race 9)

KEY CONTENDERS

Liberty Lover (Last 3 Beyers: 62-63-51)

◗ He began his streak in a Zia Park allowance in September. Liberty Lover has won three consecutive stakes since the score, the New Mexico Cup Juvenile and the Eddy County at Zia and the Red Hedemen Mile at Sunland.

◗ Liberty Lover will be cutting back from a two-turn mile to one turn. He’s a three-time winner at five to six furlongs.

◗ Liberty Lover will break from the rail. Ry Eikleberry has the mount for trainer Johnnie Nall and owners J. Kirk and Judy Robison.

Lux (Last 3 Beyers: 62-39-47)

◗ He chased Liberty Lover in his last three starts, missing by a neck in the Red Hedeman.

◗ The move to one turn would seem to suit Lux, whose three victories came sprinting.

Caliente Carson (Last 3 Beyers: 56-51-50)

◗ He ran a strong race on the cutback from a mile last out, when second in an allowance at 5 1/2 furlongs at Sunland. One start prior, he was fourth in the Eddy County.