Sunland Park: Mr. Wizard deserves highweight assignment in New Mexico State University

Mr. Wizard will be spotting his rivals between five and 12 pounds Sunday when he starts as the 125-pound highweight in the $85,000 New Mexico State University Handicap at Sunland Park. The mile and 70-yard race is for 4-year-olds and up and is restricted to horses bred in New Mexico. It drew 11.

Mr. Wizard has established himself as a dominant force in the division over the past several months. He won the $190,480 New Mexico Classic Cup at Zia Park in October and in December captured the state’s next major race for older route horses, the $85,240 Albert Dominguez Memorial Handicap at Sunland.

He enters Sunday’s race off a Feb. 25 allowance win at a mile at Sunland, and the Beyer Speed Figure of 78 that he earned is the co-highest last-race number in the New Mexico State University Handicap. He shares the distinction with Cross Chris Run, winner of the 2011 New Mexico Classic Cup who will be making his first start since December 2012.

Dallas Barton trains Mr. Wizard, a 5-year-old by Premeditation who races for the partnership of W.D. Carson Sr., M.H. Carson, and Leach Racing. Dusty Ryder Shepherd has the mount from post 5.

Mr. Wizard has shown versatility in his races and could get a stalking trip behind such rivals as That’s Who, winner of last year’s $50,000 Land of Enchantment at Ruidoso; Storms Surprise, a sprint stakes winner stretching out around two turns; and the fresh Cross Chris Run.

The field also includes defending race winner Attitude E Racer, and On Down The Road, who won the New Mexico Classic Cup in 2012. They are among four entrants for trainer Joel Marr.