Win Mir meets Uno Menudo

Win Mir, the 2004 champion New Mexico-bred 2-year-old colt or gelding, tries for his sixth win in his last seven starts when he meets 2004 champion New Mexico-bred 2-year-old filly Uno Menudo in a deep Grade 2, $125,000 New Mexico Horse Breeders Association Stakes at Sunland Park on Sunday afternoon.

Win Mir was the dominant New Mexico-bred juvenile in the last half of 2004, when he won 5 of 6 starts, including the Shue Fly Stakes and the Ruidoso Sale Futurity. In the Ruidoso Sale Futurity he rolled to an easy 1 1/4 length victory, and in the Shue Fly Stakes, his most recent start on Dec. 12, he scored by a neck over Gotta Get and Call Me First Fast, whom he will face again in the NMHBA Stakes.

Win Mir's stakes wins came in impressive times. He won the Ruidoso Sale Futurity in 17.18 seconds for 350 yards and won the Shue Fly at Sunland Park in 19.30 seconds for 400 yards, the NMHBA distance.

The only horse to defeat Win Mir during the last half of 2004 was Uno Menudo, in the Zia Futurity on Aug. 4. Win Mir was bumped at the start of that 400-yard race at Ruidoso Downs and was never in contention, finishing in fourth place. Meanwhile, Uno Menudo ran the best race of her career to win by one-length in 19.31 seconds for 400 yards.

Uno Menudo prepped for the NMHBA Stakes in an allowance race on Jan. 21 at Sunland Park, winning by a neck against NMHBA Stakes rivals Gotta Get and Chicks Rimen Native.

Win Mir drew post position 4, while Uno Menudo has the outside post in the 10-horse field.

Gotta Get has been extremely consistent with three wins, two seconds, and a third in his last six starts. Each of the wins came in trial races, and his second-place effort in the Shue Fly behind Win Mir came after he was fractious in the gate.

Chicks Rimen Native was lightly raced in 2004 with just four starts, but he won two of them and was a close second-place finisher in the other two races, including the New Mexico Senor Futurity. He returned from a four-month layoff on Jan. 21 and overcame a troubled start to get within a neck of Uno Menudo.

Senor Futurity winner Run Mr deserves a hard look in the NBMHBA Stakes. He won three straight starts, including the Senor Futurity, before finishing a troubled fifth as the even-money favorite in the Shue Fly Stakes in his last start. He gained the favorite's role by winning the Shue Fly trial in an exceptional 19.15 seconds for 400 yards, the fastest qualifying time. In the Senor Futurity, he was bumped at the start, but still managed to defeat Chicks Rimen Native and Gotta Get.