Riley Allison Derby, Borderplex key preps for 3-year-olds
How Did He Do That won the biggest race of his young career in New Mexico, and he’s returning to the state Sunday for the $100,000 Riley Allison Derby at Sunland Park.
The one-mile race for 3-year-olds is the first local prep for the Grade 3, $600,000 Sunland Derby. It’s one of four stakes on the card, which also includes the $65,000 Borderplex, a stepping-stone to the $300,000 Sunland Park Oaks. The Sunland Derby and Sunland Oaks will be run March 26.
The Riley Allison field of 10 also includes American Outlaw, a promising son of American Pharoah; One in Vermillion, who has won back-to-back stakes at Turf Paradise; and Wild On Ice, who is 2 for 2 and trained by Joel Marr.
Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, who has had a long history of success in the Riley Allison, trains How Did He Do That for leading New Mexico owners J. Kirk and Judy Robison. The horse won the $75,000 Zia Park Juvenile on Nov. 22, covering six furlongs in a sharp 1:08.81.
How Did He Do That is now looking for his first win at two turns, and Asmussen believes the son of Good Magic will be effective at the distance Sunday.
Asmussen is adding blinkers to How Did He Do That’s equipment after the horse finished fifth in the Smarty Jones on Jan. 1 at Oaklawn.
“He dropped the bridle in the middle of the race the other day,” Asmussen said.
The start was How Did He Do That’s first at two turns, and he earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 76. It’s the best last-race number in the Riley Allison.
“I think this is a good spot for him,” said Asmussen, who has given the mount to Alfredo Juarez Jr.
Sunland-based trainer Todd Fincher will counter with American Outlaw, who is looking to recapture his best form after contesting the pace and finishing ninth in the $400,000 Springboard Mile on Dec. 17 at Remington Park.
“He broke a little slow the other day, grabbed the bit, and completely ran off,” Fincher said. “He just did himself in. Hopefully, this time he won’t do that.”
American Outlaw won a maiden special weight sprint at Remington by five lengths in his debut Oct. 15 and was second in a subsequent allowance route at Remington with a career-high Beyer of 79.
“He’s a very talented horse, just a little headstrong right now,” Fincher said. “We’ve been working on that. Hopefully, it will register with him to start relaxing a little bit.”
American Outlaw drew post 10, which is the widest gate in a race that has two also-eligibles in Respect the Union and Ha Ha For You. Luis Fuentes has the mount on American Outlaw.
“He shouldn’t get pressure from the outside,” Fincher said. “Hopefully, he’ll learn to relax. It’s just a process.”
Fincher also will send out Giroovin, a new member of the barn who exits a fifth-place finish to Hit Show in a first-level allowance route at Oaklawn.
“We thought this would be a good spot,” Fincher said. “He wants the distance.”
Fincher also entered Malmo, but said the horse will likely run instead in a Tuesday allowance at Sunland. That race also drew the two also-eligibles from the Riley Allison.
One in Vermillion is making his two-turn debut off a win in the $60,000 Lost in the Fog Juvenile on Dec. 21 at Turf Paradise. He earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 70.
Wild On Ice earned a Beyer of 74 for his win in an entry-level allowance sprint Dec. 19 at Zia. The son of Tapizar is making his two-turn debut in the Riley Allison.
The first of the stakes is the Borderplex, which is for 3-year-old fillies over 6 1/2 furlongs. Fincher holds a strong hand in the field of five, as he sends out stakes winner Flying Connection and the well-regarded maiden winner Christian d’Oro.
Flying Connection began her career last summer at Del Mar with a pair of fifth-place finishes in maiden special weight sprints. In one of those races, she caught a future Grade 1 winner in And Tell Me Nolies.
Back home in New Mexico, Flying Connection romped by 15 lengths in a maiden special weight sprint Nov. 7 at Zia Park. Flying Connection returned to win the Zia Princess on Nov. 21, covering six furlongs in a blazing 1:08.26. She earned a career-high Beyer of 83.
“She’s awesome,” Fincher said. “She’s done nothing but gotten better.
“We had muscular issues with her at Del Mar, got her over all that. She’s a really nice filly.”
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Flying Connection is a daughter of Nyquist and the mare Free Flying Soul, who was a multiple stakes winner of more than $400,000. She races for Brad King, Jim Cone, Robert L. Lewis, Suzanne Kirby, and Randy Andrews.
Flying Connection will break from post 4 under regular rider Juarez.
“She’s a little aggressive,” Fincher said. “She’ll probably be up there closer to the lead.”
Christian d’Oro was a 6 3/4-length winner of a maiden special weight Dec. 5 at Zia. The win came in her second career start.
“She’s a nice filly,” Fincher said. “She keeps progressing, doing better and better. We like her.”
Christian d’Oro races for Chris Coleman.
◗ The card also includes the $75,000 Ft. Bliss, which drew Mine That Star, a multiple stakes-winning half-brother to Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, and the $100,000 Jamison Memorial for older runners bred in New Mexico.
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