Pendleton heads Evans trio in San Juan County Commissioners

The improving Pendleton will be looking for his fourth straight win Sunday when he takes on shipper Lookin At Lee and multiple stakes winners American Dubai and Raagheb in the $75,000 San Juan County Commissioners at SunRay Park.

The 1 1/8-mile race, which will be run around three turns on the six-furlong oval, highlights the closing-day card. A field of six has signed on, completed by Bokeelia Island and African Fighter.

Pendleton began his streak March 24 at Sunland Park, where he won an allowance over 6 1/2 furlongs. He proceeded to win at the same distance at SunRay in the two-turn Inaugural Stakes on May 4. Pendleton then won an allowance at a mile at SunRay May 19 to improve his career record to 6 for 9.

“He’s really coming into his own,” said trainer Justin Evans. “He’s been lightly raced. He’s a horse that has really matured. He set a track record going a mile here last out.”

Pendleton won his last start in 1:35.34. He set quick fractions and rolled home by 12 3/4 lengths, while earning a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 92. Pendleton – a son of Giant’s Causeway and a half-brother to Grade 2 winner Mrs. McDougal – will pick up more ground Sunday.

“He’s bred to like the distance, and he really likes the track,” Evans said of Pendleton, who is 2 for 2 at SunRay.

Frank Reyes has the mount from the rail for William Tomasic and Susan Tomasic.

Evans, who leads the trainer standings at SunRay, also will saddle Raagheb, winner of the $65,000 Winsham Lad Handicap in January at Sunland. He chased the pace when second in the mile allowance won by Pendleton.

“It didn’t set up great for him the other day,” Evans said. “This race, we’ll do things different, cover him up, sit longer, have a big punch at the end.”

Evans also sends out Bokeelia Island, who makes his first start since a runner-up finish in a Sunland allowance sprint April 14.

“We freshened him up,” Evans said. “He’s had a couple of really sharp works here. He’s actually a horse suited to handle the distance.”

Evans noted that earlier in Bokeelia Island’s career he was competitive in some extended turf routes. He is by Medaglia d’Oro.

Lookin At Lee comes off a runner-up finish in the $150,000 Sunland Park Handicap over 1 1/8 miles on May 4. American Dubai was third in the same race, which was won by Runaway Ghost, who is being pointed for the Grade 2 Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs.