Texas Tempest cuts back in El Paso Times at Sunland

Texas Tempest might get an ideal pace setup Sunday when she makes her stakes debut in the $50,000 El Paso Times at Sunland Park. And that’s not all she has going for her in the 6 1/2-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies. Texas Tempest also is the best bred runner in the field as a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Purge.

Texas Tempest will be cutting back from a mile Sunday, having finished second by a head in a $100,000 optional claimer at Remington Park in her most recent start Dec. 10. She dueled on the lead in that race, but on the turn back in distance might fall into a stalking position behind recent sprint winners R Bling, Paloma Mesa, and Yankee Tori.

As for her pedigree, Texas Tempest is by the multiple Grade 1 winner Bernardini. Her dam, Copelan’s Bid Gal, was a two-time stakes winner and in addition to Purge, an earner of $905,434, she has produced the stakes winner Namaste’s Wish.

Ken Tohill has the mount on Texas Tempest from post 3. Steve Asmussen trains the filly for Ackerley Brothers Farm.

R Bling has never finished worse than third in six career starts, her latest win coming in a first-level allowance at Sunland on Jan. 9. She led wire to wire in that 5 1/2-furlong race and figures to be prominent again, particularly with the additional furlong she picks up Sunday.

Paloma Mesa is 2 for 2, her latest score a first-level allowance at Sunland on Dec. 19.