Sunland Park notes: Isn't He Clever begins season in Tuesday allowance

Isn’t He Clever has turned in some memorable stakes wins in New Mexico, from his track-record performance in the Bill Thomas Memorial on the Sunland Park Derby undercard last March, to his 16 3/4-length triumph in the San Juan County Commissioner’s Handicap in June. He’ll launch his 5-year-old season on Tuesday in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance at Sunland that drew fellow stakes winners Homerun Berti and Smack Ridge.

Isn’t He Clever has won stakes at 2, 3 and 4, with all of those victories coming in New Mexico. Henry Dominguez, who trains the horse for J. Kirk and Judy Robison, hopes Tuesday’s race is a launching pad to this year’s Bill Thomas, a $75,000 race at 6 1/2 furlongs March 23. Isn’t He Clever won last year’s running by 5 3/4 lengths in 1:13.40.

“We’re happy to have him back,” said Dominguez.

Isn’t He Clever will be making his first start since July, when he finished sixth in an allowance at Del Mar. Dominguez said “minor ailments” led to the layoff, and the horse has worked a series of bullets for his return.

“He’s back to where we need to be,” Dominguez said. “He might be a little bit rusty since Del Mar. He got beat in his prep for the Bill Thomas last year, then set a track record. We might be a hair behind with him this time, but he’s coming up to the race well.”

Dominguez said Isn’t He Clever could race mostly in New Mexico this year, with the exception of a possible stakes start at Lone Star Park, where last year he was fourth in the Grade 3 Lone Star Park Handicap.

“We’ll keep him in New Mexico, more than likely, from now on, because this is where he usually does his best,” Dominguez said. “He likes the surfaces in New Mexico.”

Isn’t He Clever is one of at least three potential stakes starters Dominguez will have on the Sunland Derby card, including Lakehouse Fun, who is a candidate for the $85,000 La Coneja for fillies and mares bred in New Mexico.

Proceed possible for Sunland Derby

The New Mexico-bred Proceed remained undefeated in three starts with his win in last month’s $120,000 Mine That Bird Derby at Sunland. He came out of the race well and will be considered for the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby, said his trainer, Joel Marr. Proceed could go in the $85,000 New Mexico Breeders’ Derby on the same card March 23, he said.

“We’re keeping our options open,” Marr said. “We’re just playing it day by day.”

Proceed launched his career at Zia Park in November with a 14 1/2-length win in a maiden special weight at a mile. One start later he won the $85,000 Red Hedeman Mile at Sunland. For his two-length win in the Mine That Bird Derby, he earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 77.

“He’s a very talented horse,” Marr said. “He’s lightly raced. He was a late-maturing colt. We just gave him a little bit of time and he’s just now coming around, just now learning what it’s all about. He’s going to get better.”

Proceed is a son of Desert God who races for his breeder, Michael Stinson.

◗ Jaycito, a Grade 1 winner at 2 who captured the $50,000 Curribot last month at Sunland, is being pointed for the $75,000 Sunland Park Handicap at a mile and an eighth on April 13, said his trainer, Justin Evans.