Proceed eyes fourth straight stakes win in Lineage Classic

Proceed will be looking to nail down his fourth straight stakes win Saturday, when he returns to the New Mexico-bred ranks for the $60,000 Lineage Classic at the Downs at Albuquerque. He is the star attraction on a program of four stakes that help make up the track’s annual Lineage Weekend.

The Classic is for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles, and it shares a card with the $60,000 Bank of Albuquerque Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs, led by Tea Light; the $60,000 Albuquerque Journal for 3-year-olds at six furlongs, led by Weather Dodger; and the $60,000 Carlos Salazar for fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs, led by Funnyoushouldask.

The races are restricted to New Mexico-breds as part of a weekend festival. There are three stakes for Quarter Horses on Sunday, with the $60,000 Lineage Championship drawing Miracle Snow, an 11-year-old making his eighth consecutive appearance in the race he captured in 2010, 2012, and 2014.

Lineage Classic (race 9)

Key contenders

Proceed (Last 3 Beyers: 96-76-87)

* He dominated the $75,000 Sunland Park Handicap by 4 1/2 lengths in his most recent start April 12, defeating such stalwarts as runner-up Isn’t He Clever and third-place finisher Ol Winedrinker Who.

* Proceed began his current stakes streak Dec. 28, when he won the $85,000 Albert Dominguez Memorial at Sunland Park. He also accounted for the $85,000 New Mexico State University Handicap on March 14 at Sunland.

* Proceed, owned by breeder Michael Stinson, has won seven of eight career starts, with his lone loss coming in the Zia Park Derby last November, when he ran third to Alert Bay.

* Trainer Joel Marr has given the mount to the horse’s regular rider, Alfredo Juarez Jr.

* Proceed will be shortening up from 1 1/8 miles and could get a decent pace to stalk as the majority of his six rivals will be stretching out from sprint races.

* Proceed will be making his first start at Albuquerque.

That’s Who (Last 3 Beyers: 55-75-72)

* He ran third to Proceed twice this winter at Sunland – in the Dominguez Memorial and the New Mexico State University Handicap, both of which were restricted to horses bred in New Mexico.

* That’s Who is stretching out from a pacesetting effort over seven furlongs and has a chance to slip away Saturday.