Streaking Chief Cicatriz has options for next start

Chief Cicatriz, who won his third consecutive stakes race in the recent KLAQ Handicap at Sunland Park, could be headed back to New Mexico, trainer Shawn Davis said. The horse, who is based at Turf Paradise, is under consideration for the $75,000 Ft. Bliss on Jan. 25 at Sunland. Davis said options also include the $75,000 Phoenix Gold Cup on Feb. 8 at Turf Paradise.

Chief Cicatriz’s current stakes streak started with the Luke Kruytbosch on Nov. 9 at Turf Paradise. He proceeded to capture the $100,000 Zia Park Sprint on Nov. 27, and late last month won the KLAQ for the second time in his career. He covered five furlongs in 56.51 seconds and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 90.

“We were very happy,” Davis said. “He really runs his own race. He likes to be fairly close.”

Davis trains Chief Cicatriz for his breeder, Roy Gene Evans. The 7-year-old is by Munnings and out of the Grand Slam mare Super Buggy, whom Evans claimed for $5,000 in 2011. Chief Cicatriz has developed into a Grade 3 winner who has earned $462,845.

“He researched the mare, claimed her,” Davis said of Evans. “He’s very astute at what he does. He does his homework.”

Super Buggy has a 3-year-old half-brother to Chief Cicatriz named Hondo Lane. He was an 11-length maiden special weight winner for Evans and Davis in November at Zia. Hondo Lane is by the Pulpit stallion Mr Speaker.

“He’s got some talent,” Davis said.

Davis met Evans, who is from a prominent philanthropic family based in Dallas, at a charity fundraising event. Davis is a Hall of Fame bronc rider who has spent the past 34 years serving as general manager of production for the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. He retired from that role last month and said he has since picked up a few new horses to train. Davis has a 20-horse stable based at Turf Paradise.