Restrainedvengence ships in for Curribot Handicap

Restrainedvengence will bring an outstanding company line into the $75,000 Curribot Handicap on Sunday at Sunland Park.

The Southern California shipper exits a fifth-place finish in the Grade 2 San Pasqual on Feb. 1, and since that race third-place finisher Combatant has come back to win the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap.

Restrainedvengence has raced before in New Mexico, having wired the field in the $150,000 Zia Park Championship on Nov. 27. Trainer Val Brinkerhoff said that with a strong performance on Sunday, Restrainedvengenance might run in the $150,000 Sunland Park Handicap on April 18.

“We’ll see how it goes,” he said.

Restrainedvengence is part of a six-horse field for the Curribot, which is for 4-year-olds and up over 1 1/16 miles. Also set to start is Sheriff Brown, a half-brother to Sunland Derby winner Runaway Ghost who comes off his first stakes win, in the $65,000 Winsham Lad on Feb. 9 at Sunland Park.

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Trainer Justin Evans has two starters in the Curribot in Raagheb, winner of last year’s Winsham Lad, and Black Ops, who was third in this year’s running. Trainer Robertino Diodoro counters with Gato Guapo, a three-time stakes winner coming off a third-place finish in the Turf Paradise Handicap on Feb 8.

Restrainedvengence, who is the 124-pound highweight, will break from post 2 under Francisco Arrieta.

“He doesn’t have to be on the lead,” Brinkerhoff said. “If he’s on the lead, that’s fine. He’s got tactical speed, so it really doesn’t matter. He’s got a terrific turn of foot.”

Restrainedvengence, who is a three-time stakes winner, races for Kelly Brinkerhoff and Bob Grayson Jr. He is a 5-year-old by Hold Me Back.

Sheriff Brown, who is weighted at 120 pounds, stalked the pace in the Winsham Lad en route to a three-quarter-length victory. He earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 86. Alfredo Juarez Jr. has the mount from the rail for breeder and owner Joe Peacock and trainer Todd Fincher.

Sheriff Brown, a 4-year-old by Curlin, and Runaway Ghost, a 5-year-old by Ghostzapper, are both out of the multiple stakes-winning mare Rose’s Desert. Runaway Ghost, who is not running in Sunday’s race, is a past winner of the Curribot who overall has won six stakes and earned $782,394. He shares the same connections as Sheriff Brown.

Raagheeb was second to Runaway Ghost in an allowance sprint in his last start Feb. 23 at Sunland and is weighted at 121. Shane Laviolette was aboard Raagheeb and has the mount again Sunday.