The unbeaten Fast Gator stretches speed in Enchantress Stakes

Fast Gator tries two turns for the first time on Sunday, when she puts her perfect 4-for-4 record on the line in the $85,000 Enchantress Stakes at Sunland Park.

The Enchantress, for 3-year-old fillies, shares the card with the $85,000 Red Hedeman Mile, which is for 3-year-olds. Both are for New Mexico-breds.

Fast Gator is the most accomplished member of the 10-horse Enchantress. She has won stakes in her last three starts and she leads all of her rivals in earnings with $204,785. Fast Gator also owns the field’s best career Beyer Speed Figure, a 71 for her win in the $140,000 New Mexico Cup Lassie on Oct. 29 at Zia.

Fast Gator enters the Enchantress off a half-length win in the $85,000 La Senora at six furlongs Dec. 30 at Sunland. She has set the pace in all four of her starts, and could prove to be the controlling speed Sunday.

Fast Gator also gets pedigree support for the two-turn test. Her sire, Diabolical, was a multiple stakes winner at two turns, and her dam’s sire, Roar of the Tiger, was a multiple winner at two turns. Fast Gator’s trainer, Henry Dominguez, wins at an above-average rate with his sprint-to-route prospects, according to statistics found in Daily Racing Form.

Fast Gator races for her breeders, J. Kirk and Judy Robison. She will break from post 3 under regular rider Ry Eikleberry.

The chief threat could be Hennessy Express, who is moving back into the ranks of fillies after running third against colts in the $140,000 Eddy County at two turns Nov. 22 at Zia. Roimes Chirinos has the mount for owner Dale Taylor and trainer Todd Fincher.

The Red Hedeman field of 10 has one horse who has won at two turns – Indian Jack. Two starts ago, he rallied for a half-length win in the mile and 70-yard Eddy County over a number of rivals he will again face Sunday. Alfredo Juarez Jr. was aboard and again has the mount for trainer Joel Marr.

Hollywood Henry owns the field’s best Beyer Speed Figures, earning a 77 for winning his maiden in a trial race for the Rio Grande Senor back in August at Ruidoso and a 72 for an allowance win in October at Zia. He will be making his two-turn debut. Dominguez trains Hollywood Henry and has given the mount to Enrique Gomez.