Tougher draw for favorites in Challenger Six Handicap

Littlesouthernswing and Heza Bold Color will have to overcome outside posts to win the $120,000 Challenger Six Handicap at Sunland Park on Saturday. The 870-yard race for Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds is restricted to horses bred in New Mexico.

Littlesouthernswing won the $148,000 New Mexico Cup Challenge at 870 yards in his last start Oct. 31, when he broke from post 3 and held for a neck win over the rail horse, Heza Bold Color. This time around, Littlesouthernswing drew post 6, and Heza Bold Color, gate 8.

Key’s Band, a Thoroughbred, is the 125-pound highweight after just missing by a neck in an allowance at 870 yards at Zia.