Plenty of positives for Jannas Pride in Red Hedeman Mile

From just about every handicapping angle, Jannas Pride looks like a reliable favorite Thursday in the $120,000 Red Hedeman Mile at Sunland Park.

He is unbeaten at the race’s distance, he owns the field’s best last-race Beyer Speed Figure, he has already defeated six of the 10 horses he will face, and he comes into the stakes white-hot. Jannas Pride has won his last three races, his most recent the $129,000 Eddy County at Zia Park on Dec. 5.

The Red Hedeman is restricted to 2-year-olds bred in New Mexico. It will share a card with a $40,000 optional claiming race that drew Glory Be Mine, a stablemate to Jannas Pride who won seven consecutive races between July 2009 and October 2010.

Jannas Pride began his win streak in September, when he was up by a head in a maiden special weight sprint at Zia. One start later, he looked even better while rolling to a more than two-length win in a first-level allowance, also at Zia. The race was Jannas Pride’s first at two turns, and he remained routing for his stakes debut in the Eddy County. Jannas Pride settled in fourth in the one-mile race before overtaking the leaders to win by 3 3/4 lengths. For his effort, he earned a career-high 69 Beyer.

“He’s definitely a better horse at two turns, the further the better with him,” said Todd Fincher, who trains Jannas Pride for Charles Hunter and Dale Taylor. “He’s a Desert God, and they like to run further and kind of mature a little later.”

Jannas Pride won his maiden in his third career start. He will break from post 7, under regular rider Juan Ochoa.

“I expect a decent pace,” Fincher said of the Red Hedeman. “I look for him to be laying midpack, fifth or sixth, somewhere in there.”

Silent Sunday could be setting the pace. He was second by a neck in the $152,000 New Mexico Cup Juvenile at six furlongs at Zia in his last start Oct. 31. Miguel Hernandez has the mount for trainer Fred Danley.

◗ Glory Be Mine, whose win streak ended earlier this month when she finished third in the $120,000 New Mexico Racing Commission Handicap at Sunland, will be out to stretch her speed around two turns in the ninth race, which is restricted to New Mexico-bred fillies and mares. Glory Be Mine set the pace in her last start, while being pressed through fractions of 21.40 seconds for the opening quarter and 44.40 for the half-mile. But the fractions should be more comfortable when she makes her two-turn debut Thursday.

“One thing’s for sure, she won’t be going 21 and 2,” Fincher said.

Fincher is anxious to see if Glory Be Mine will handle the added ground. The race is an opportune time to test her, because if she does it will open up more options for her at the meet. Otherwise, the next sprint race for her division is not until March, Fincher said.

“She might be able to get the mile,” he said. “I don’t know. This is our chance to try.”