Proceed star of stakes program

Trainer Joel Marr excels with horses returning from layoffs, and his skills will be put to the test Sunday at Ruidoso Downs with Proceed, who makes his first start in over a year in the $50,000 Land of Enchantment Handicap.

Proceed is one of the marquee horses on the $1 million Zia Festival card. The program of 10 stakes for New Mexico-breds comprises six races for Thoroughbreds and four for Quarter Horses. Others of note running include Bryn’s Fancy Pants, seeking to improve her career record to 4 for 4 in the $50,000 Sierra Starlet Handicap, and Running Dragon, looking to remain perfect in six starts in the $409,110 Zia Quarter Horse Futurity.

Proceed is a winner of seven of eight career starts, including six stakes. He is the 124-pound highweight for the Land of Enchantment, a 7 1/2-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up which will be run around two turns. Proceed last raced April 12, 2015, winning the $75,000 Sunland Park Handicap with a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 102.

“He had a few minor things that had to get taken care of, but everything’s going well now,” Marr said. “I think he’s ready. He’s been training very well, been really interested in his job.”

Marr wins at a 22 percent rate with horses returning of layoffs of 180 more days, according to Daily Racing Form statistics. His most prominent runner to win stakes races off long layoffs was Peppers Pride, whose starts were often forced to be spaced far apart due to limited opportunities for the accomplished mare, who retired 19 for 19. Firing off the bench calls for a trainer striking the right balance of conditioning and mental preparedness with a horse.

“It takes a lot of time,” Marr said. “We try to definitely make sure they’re extremely fit and give them a few pretty stiff works prior to running, give them a little race of their own and see how they come back off that, make sure they’re plenty fit and ready to go. Obviously there’s no substitute for a race, but we do the best we can.”

Marr said he also likes to do a good deal of schooling in the paddock with his layoff prospects.

“You’re getting them thinking about running,” he said.

Proceed’s works for his return include a bullet five-eighths in 59.80 seconds July 24 at Ruidoso.

Miguel Fuentes Jr. has the mount on Proceed, a 5-year-old by Desert God who races for his breeder, Michael Stinson. Proceed is 5 for 5 against New Mexico-breds and will break from post 5.

Marr has one additional horse on the card returning from a long layoff, Attitude E Racer, who is entered in the $50,000 Sierra Blanca. He last raced on Oct. 26, 2014, winning the New Mexico Cup Sprint at Zia.

Bryn’s Fancy Pants on the rise

Bryn’s Fancy Pants is an up-and-coming 3-year-old sprinter who has won her three starts by a combined margin of 16 1/4 lengths. She will be moving from open company back into the statebred ranks for the Sierra Starlet.

The Starlet is a five and a half furlong race for 3-year-old fillies.

Bryn’s Fancy Pants enters off a 5 1/4-length romp in the $50,000 Petticoat on July 2 at The Downs at Albuquerque.

“It’s fun to run those types,” said Todd Fincher, who trains Bryn’s Fancy Pants for Dale Taylor, Carey Taylor, and Jon Hogg. “You don’t get to do it very often, but when you do, it’s fun to watch them.”

The Petticoat was the first start in six months for Bryn’s Fancy Pants, who won her debut by 10 lengths last November at Zia, then won the La Senora in December at Sunland.

“We had some shins on her, turned her out, and brought her back,” Fincher said. “She’s done everything right. She’s a nice filly.”

Alfredo Juarez Jr. has the mount from post 8.

“She can do whatever,” Fincher said. “She’s fallen back as many as eight, nine lengths before and run them down, or she can go to the front.”

Fincher has six in Mountain Top

Fincher trains six of the 10 starters in the $173,171 Mountain Top Futurity at five furlongs. Fincher’s starters will break from posts 5 through 10 and include 11-length trial winner Ignored.

“He just drew off down the lane,” said Fincher.

Another Brother won his maiden in his trial by 4 3/4 lengths.

“He ran a beautiful race in the trial,” Fincher said. “He drew off on them, too.”

Another Brother is a son of Attila’s Storm racing for his breeder, R.D. Hubbard.

“He’s got great breeding,” said Fincher, noting his siblings include multiple stakes winner Thermal. “He’s named Another Brother because the mare had nothing but colts – until this year. She had a filly.”

 Other stakes on the card include the $50,000 Lincoln Handicap, led by 122-pound co-highweights Zasha and Renewed Vows, and the $50,000 Road Runner, which serves as the stakes debut for the sharp Hit a Lick.