Little Dume targets first stakes win in Bold Ego Handicap

Little Dume looks like a filly on a mission Sunday in the $65,000 Bold Ego Handicap at Sunland Park. She is looking for her first stakes win in the 5 1/2-furlong sprint and has invaded from out of state for trainer Neil Drysdale.

The Bold Ego is one of four stakes on the Sunland card. The program also includes the Grade 1, $350,000 Championship for Quarter Horses, which drew reigning world champion Jessies First Down.

Little Dume is part of a 10-horse field for the Bold Ego, which is for fillies and mares. She invades from Turf Paradise, where she was a romping allowance winner Nov. 26. Two of the horses she defeated returned to win allowances at Turf Paradise.

As for Little Dume, she has worked sharply for what will be her second stakes appearance, drilling a half-mile in a bullet 46 seconds Dec. 20 at Turf Paradise. In her lone stakes start, she was fifth in the $50,000 Hoist Her Flag Stakes in August at Canterbury.

A win in the Bold Ego would enhance the value of the well-bred Little Dume, who is a 4-year-old by Malibu Moon. Her dam, Intangaroo, won three Grade 1 races during her career – the Humana Distaff, the Santa Monica, and the Ballerina.

Little Dume races for Alice Bamford and will break from post 10 under regular rider Andrew Ramgeet. She could get an ideal tracking trip behind Tilla Cat.

Another top contender in the field is Diabolical Dame, winner of last year’s Bold Ego who is making a rare start outside the New Mexico-bred ranks. She is seeking career win No. 16.

There is one additional Thoroughbred stakes on the card, the $85,000 Four Rivers John Deere. It spotlights 2-year-olds bred in New Mexico, and the field of 10 includes stakes winners Kris Who and Indian Jack.

Kris Who is looking for his fourth straight win in a streak that started in a maiden special weight sprint Aug. 23 at the Downs at Albuquerque. He then won a trial race for the track’s New Mexico State Fair Thoroughbred Futurity before winning the finale is his most recent start Sept. 24.

Alfredo Juarez Jr. has the mount from post 3 for trainer Todd Fincher.

Indian Jack will be turning back in distance to six furlongs after winning the $140,000 Eddy County at one mile and 70 yards Nov. 22 at Zia.

World champ in the house

Jessies First Down will break from post 5 in a field of eight when he attempts to win his fourth straight stakes race in the Championship. The 440-yard feature goes as race 11.

Jessies First Down won last year’s Championship. His streak this year started in the All American Gold Cup, a Grade 1 race on Sept. 3 at Ruidoso Downs. He then won the $250,000 Albuquerque Fall Championship on Sept. 24 before taking down the Grade 1 Zia Park Championship in his most recent start Nov. 22.

The other Quarter Horse race on the card is the $200,000 Invitational, which drew Grade 1 winner Apollitical Brooke.