Russian Lane tries to extend dominance at Sunland

Russian Lane, who dominated New Mexico-bred 2-year-olds in 2010, will make his first start at 3 on Saturday in the $120,000 Pepsi Cola at Sunland Park.

A field of nine will go in the six-furlong race, which is restricted to statebreds.

Russian Lane won 4 of 5 starts last year, with two of those wins coming in stakes. His latest was on the New Mexico Cup program at Zia Park in his last start Oct. 31. Russian Lane was the 3-5 favorite in the $152,000 Juvenile at six furlongs, and after dueling for the lead through a half-mile in 44.80 seconds he won by a neck. Russian Lane’s other stakes win came in the $77,000 George Maloof Futurity at The Downs at Albuquerque in September. Russian Lane broke from an outside post in the Juvenile and will again have the benefit of a wide gate in the Pepsi Cola. He is in post 9, which could give his rider, Martin Bourdieu, some pace options.

Russian Lane might be able to sit just off Capitol Guy and perhaps Silent Sunday, his pace rival in the Juvenile who will be turning back from a route on Saturday. Cal Martin trains Russian Lane for Marjorie Martin. Russian Lane is a son of the Storm Cat stallion Devon Lane, and has earned $157,584.

Silent Sunday, who was second in the Juvenile, set the pace and finished eighth in the $120,000 Red Hedemen Mile last out at Sunland.