Sunland: No Turbulence no cinch

SUNLAND PARK, N.M. - Saturday's $75,000-added Sunland Park Oaks has drawn an interesting field of eight fillies, many of whom have the ability to win, but also have other factors working against them.

The one-mile race attracted only one invader, No Turbulence. A Santa Anita-based runner owned by Frank Lewkowitz and Dennis and Norine Grenier and trained by Eric Kruljac, No Turbulence will be favored because of the quality of competition she has faced, but she is by no means a cinch. Distance limitations appear to be her weakness; she raced at a mile or longer twice since winning her maiden and weakened in the stretch both times. No Turbulence has services of leading rider Daryl Montoya.

Two horses stand out among the locals, particularly After the Beep, who is owned by R.D. Hubbard and Constance Sczesny. After the Beep started out the meet a lightly raced maiden but has developed nicely for trainer Bart Hone, winning her last four races. Most recently, After the Beep won her first stakes race, the six-furlong El Paso Times Handicap. After the Beep has yet to race around two turns, but she has rated well for jockey Jorge Bourdieu in sprints.

Excellently is the only bona fide route horse in the race, and deserves serious consideration even though she is still eligible for a nonwinners-of-two. Owned by Dale Hopkins and James Wasson, Excellently raced twice at the Oaks distance, turning in deceptively good efforts against colts in allowance competition. Last time out she finished third behind After the Beep in the El Paso Times. Given that Saturday's Oaks is a two-turn race, and 1 1/4 miles longer, she should benefit. Nena Matz has the mount for trainer Henry Dominguez.