Sunland Park: Proceed tries to step up in Red Hedeman Mile

Proceed will attempt to build on a 14 1/2-length debut win on Saturday, when he makes the second start of his career in the $85,000 Red Hedeman Mile at Sunland Park. He is part of a seven-horse field in the race restricted to 2-year-olds bred in New Mexico. The group includes stakes winners Reaper and Dandy Don Who.

Proceed dominated a maiden special weight race at a mile at Zia, stalking the pace and drawing off on Nov. 13. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 72, the second-best last-race number in the Hedeman.

“We’ve always liked him a lot,” said Joel Marr, who trains Proceed for his breeder, Michael Stinson. “We’ve always known he’s had ability, and he came through and showed it.”

But Proceed will have to step up again on Saturday, said Marr.

“This is a different group, second start of his life,” he said. “He’s going to have to run like an experienced horse. There’s a lot of experienced horses in the race.”

Proceed has a couple of factors that should work in his favor, said Marr.

“He’s very intelligent – that helps a lot,” he said. “He’s pretty calm.

“So far, he’s doing everything we’ve asked of him.”

Proceed debuted late in the season because of his size, said Marr.

“He’s a bigger colt and it took a while for him to get himself together,” Marr said. “He’s still not mature yet. He’s still growing.”

Proceed will break from post 2 under jockey Alfredo Juarez Jr.

“There’s more speed in this race, more experience,” Marr said. “It will come down to whether he’s ready for that or not.”

Reaper is the most accomplished member of the field as a two-time stakes winner. He took a division of the $167,391 Mountain Top Futurity at Ruidoso in June, and won the $152,720 New Mexico Classic Cup Juvenile at Zia Park in October. Reaper enters Saturday’s race off a third-place finish after setting the pace from the rail in the $138,500 Eddy County. He is owned and was bred by R.D. Hubbard and trained by Todd Fincher.

Hall inductees announced for Ruidoso

Ruidoso Downs has announced plans to induct trainer Carl Draper into its Racehorse Hall of Fame during a ceremony in late June. Draper is a two-time winner of the All American Futurity. The 2014 class will also include Cliff Lambert, now a trainer, who as a jockey won the inaugural All American Futurity, and Punch and Suzanne Jones, prominent owners and breeders of Quarter Horses. This year’s class focuses on racing in New Mexico.