Race for Jake faces swift challengers in Governor's Cup

Race for Jake made the leap from maiden claimer to stakes winner earlier this month, and on Sunday will attempt to remain unbeaten in three starts when he runs in the $55,000 Governor's Cup at Zia Park in Hobbs, N.M.

The six-furlong race for 2-year-olds also drew shippers from Oklahoma and Texas.

Race for Jake, who is based in New Mexico with trainer Jon Arnett, began his career in a $12,500 maiden claiming sprint at Zia on Sept. 19. He set the pace in the five-furlong race then darted home by four lengths at 4-1.

Race for Jake then stepped up in class for the $30,000 A.C. Kemp at the Downs at Albuquerque on Oct. 3. He showed a new dimension in that seven-furlong race, as he stalked the pace then forged to a three-quarter-length win. Race for Jake earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 51.

Although Race for Jake is the only stakes winner in the Governor's Cup, the shippers bring in better Beyer Figures.

Pulgarcito, a Remington Park-based runner from the barn of trainer Steve Asmussen, earned a career-high Beyer of 75 when he won his debut back in August. Hidden Recipe, meanwhile, put up a Beyer of 67 for his maiden win for trainer Jack Bruner. It came by 11 lengths at Lone Star Park in July.

Both horses also exit stakes, with Pulgarcito having run fifth in the $50,000 Kip Deville at Remington on Oct. 8, and Hidden Recipe third in the $100,000 Texas Stallion Stakes at Retama Park on Sept. 25.