Sunland Park: Ol Winedrinker Who cuts back in Winsham Lad

Ol Winedrinker Who has emerged as New Mexico’s leading handicap horse in the absence of Forest Mouse, and on Sunday he will attempt to further his reputation when he seeks his third consecutive stakes win in the $50,000 Winsham Lad at Sunland Park.

Ol Winedrinker Who is the 123-pound highweight in the mile and 70-yard race. The field of nine older horses also includes Jaycito, a Grade 1 winner at 2 now based in New Mexico, and Dry Summer, who has returned to the state after racing in Southern California.

Ol Winedrinker Who began his streak Nov. 4, when he set 1 1/16-mile track record in the $55,000 Veteran at Zia Park. He cruised the distance in 1:41.80. Ol Winedrinker Who then won the $167,000 Zia Park Distance Championship by 3 1/4 lengths in his most recent start Nov. 27.

“He’s really doing well, and we’re trying to keep it going,” said Joel Marr, who trains Ole Winedrinker Who for the horse’s breeders, Sam E. and Sammy L. Stevens.

Ol Winedrinker Who will be cutting back from 1 1/8 miles for the Winsham Lad.

“The farther the better, [but] he’s shown a little more speed lately and been able to stay to a little more tactical [position] and still finish,” Marr said. “If he can do that, he’ll give them a race, anyway.”

Carlos Maderia has the mount Sunday.

Marr also will send out Dry Summer, who returned to his barn last month after spending the summer and fall racing in Southern California. Dry Summer was seventh last out in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby and before that ran in the Grade 2 Twilight Derby at Santa Anita on Nov. 1.

“He was on the lead and ran a good fourth,” Marr said of the Twilight Derby.

Dry Summer will be moving back to dirt, where he won last year’s $120,000 Mine That Bird at Sunland.

Jaycito, a $50,000 purchase at auction, will be making his second start since July. He was fourth in a $40,000 optional claimer at Sunland in his most recent out Dec. 17. In that race, he lost a front shoe, according to trainer Justin Evans. Ry Eikleberry has the mount for owner Tony Pennington.

◗ Forest Mouse, who won last year’s Winsham Lad as well as the 2013 Sunland Park Handicap and 2012 Zia Park Distance Championship, last raced in April. He recently returned to the work tab at Sunland.