Sunland Park track report

Expect Will, a three-time stakes winner who exits a dominant victory in the $50,000 Groovy Stakes at Sam Houston on Nov. 20, will be a strong favorite in the eighth race Friday at Sunland Park. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint is one of two trials being run for the $100,000-added Riley Allison Futurity on Dec. 26.

The Riley Allison is a goal for Expect Will, whose other stakes wins came in the Texas Thoroughbred Association Sales Futurity and a division of the $125,000 Texas Stallion Stakes. He is trained by Steve Asmussen.

Mr. Trieste set a new Sunland track record for one mile on Tuesday, when he overcame a slow start and ran the distance in 1:35.38. The previous record was 1:35.42 set by Caliban on Feb. 16, 2003. Mr. Trieste, who was ridden by Ken Tohill, is trained by Gary Cross.

Ted Gondron's high-percentage riding has him on the top of the Sunland jockey standings. Through Monday, Gondron, who has shifted his tack to Sam Houston, was 15 for 35 (almost 43 percent), which had him a win ahead of Alfredo Juarez. Jr. and last year's leading rider, Ken Tohill. Carlos Madeira (13) and Tony Noguez (12) were in close pursuit.

As part of his record-breaking run this year, Steve Asmussen leads the way with 21 wins from his first 53 runners (almost 40 percent). Joel Marr is second with 10 wins (from 39 runners), while Henry Dominguez, runner-up to Asmussen last year, is next winning with eight of his first 47 entrants.