On the Low Down seeks third stakes win in Governor's Cup

On the Low Down will be stepping outside the New Mexico-bred ranks for the first time Monday when he attempts to win the third stakes race of his young career in the $50,000 Governor’s Cup at Zia Park.

The Governor’s Cup is for 2-year-old fillies at six furlongs. It will share a card with the $50,000 Permian Basin. The race drew the second- and third-place finishers from the Prairie Meadows Gold Lassie, Line of Credit, and Flat Out Gittin It.

On the Low Down figures to go favored over seven others, among them Thermistor, winner of the $100,000 Gold Rush Futurity in August at Arapahoe. On the Low Down has won three of six career starts, including the $147,196 Copper Top Futurity in April at Sunland and the $141,382 Mountain Top Futurity in June at Ruidoso Downs. He also will have some key variables in his favor when he breaks from post 8 under Tracy Hebert.

“The post position is good,” said Todd Fincher, who trains On the Low Down. “He won’t be forced to go to the lead and he can just stalk them.

"He’s definitely got plenty of experience, and he’s been no worse than second. He’s been a good one for sure.”

On the Low Down also owns the field’s best career Beyer Speed Figure, a 76 for his Mountain Top. The race Monday will be his first since finishing second as the favorite in the $135,000 Rio Grande Senor Futurity on Sept. 4 at Ruidoso Downs.

“He kind of ran a squirrely race last time, but has trained up to this one very well,” said Fincher, who trains the horse for Dale Taylor, Bobby McQueen, and Suzanne Kirby.

Thermistor invades from Remington Park, where he was fifth in the $75,000 Kip Deville on Sept. 24.

Kram will attempt to improve her record to 2 for 2 in the Permian Basin. She will break from the rail one start after a 5 1/4-length debut win against maiden special weight rivals Sept. 11 at Zia.

“Obviously the rail is a tough place to be, [but] she ran one time and had the rail,” Fincher said. “It won’t be anything different, other than probably more speed than that race.”

Kram is a daughter of Colonel John and was an $85,000 purchase out of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co., auction of 2-year-olds in training in April. She is a half-sister to stakes winners Net Gain, an earner of $334,568, and Cat Five’O.

“She will try her heart out,” Fincher said of Kram. “She’s gutty. I like her chances. I know the race is tough, and it’s only her second start. She’s got the right attitude.”

Roimes Chirinos has the mount for Chris Coleman and Brad King.