Skip and Go eyes Winsham Lad repeat

Skip and Go attempts to defend his title in Saturday's $50,000 Winsham Lad Handicap at Sunland Park. The one-mile event for 3-year-olds and upward lured a field of six, and Skip and Go will carry high weight of 120 pounds.

A 5-year-old son of Skip Away, Skip and Go has been a solid campaigner, compiling 8 wins from 30 starts and over $254,000 in earnings. Trained by Jose Gonzalez, Skip and Go won this race last year by 1 1/2 lengths, then backed it up by winning the $53,000 Curribot Handicap here a month later. This year, Skip and Go comes into the race off a game allowance win here Dec. 6 and a rallying second against allowance foes here Dec. 20. That day, he was beaten as the even-money favorite by Don't Strike Out, his main nemesis Saturday.

Skip and Go breaks from the outside post. Ricardo Jaime rides.

Don't Strike Out is the second highweight at 119 pounds. Trained by Ray Carlisle Jr., Don't Strike Out was in receipt of two pounds from Skip and Go when he won Dec. 20. Don't Strike Out may have a bit more early speed than Skip and Go, and that could be a tactical advantage. Regular rider Mark Villa keeps the call.

The spoiler may be Song Dancer, who ships in from Sam Houston off a seven-length victory over starter allowance foes Dec. 3 for owner and trainer Steve Asmussen. Before that, Song Dancer beat starter allowance foes at Churchill Downs on Nov. 16 by over 10 lengths. He is razor sharp, and with his ample speed and the rail draw, he figures to gun early. Brian Peck rides at 117 pounds.