Yonegwa a true road warrior

The New York Giants showed throughout the season that you dont need a home field advantage, winning an NFL record 10 road games before defeating the Patriots in the Super Bowl. Yonegwa hasnt had the success of the Giants, but hes become a road warrior nonetheless, having run his nine races at seven racetracks. A 3-year-old son of Kafwain, Yonegwa heads the $50,000 Budweiser Handicap at Sunland Park, a five-furlong event for 3-year-olds.

Yonegwa, owned by Double Eagle Ranch, began his career in the Churchill barn of Michael Maker. He won a maiden race in his third start there, then went to Mountaineer Park and faltered badly to be seventh in the Mountaineer Juvenile.

Yonegwa came back to win the Ellis Park Juvenile and then, under the guidance of current trainer Bennie Woolley Jr., romped by 6 1/4 lengths in the A.C. Kemp Handicap at Albuquerque on Sept. 29. Yonegwa went to Zia Park for the Oct. 28 Governors Handicap and prevailed by a neck. After taking a couple of months off, he was second to Rapper S S in the Dec. 30 Riley Allison Futurity here, finishing 8 3/4 lengths clear of third. In his last start he finished second in Oaklawns Dixieland on Jan. 18.

Yonegwas Beyer Speed Figures are headed the right way, with an 86, 84, and 86 in his last three starts. His speed should have him in the thick of it from the start under Joe Martinez.

Unbridled Trust, a $950,000 yearling sales buy in 2005, invades for Steve Asmussen. Like Yonegwa, he began his career in Kentucky. After graduating at Churchill Downs, he ran poorly on the Saratoga turf, followed by two romping main-track wins at the Meadowlands. Unbridled Trust was sixth in the Select behind Cobalt Blue and E Z Warrior on the Breeders Cup undercard at Monmouth Oct. 27, and then showed speed in a pair of optional claimers on Aqueducts inner track, fading to fifth in each. Alfredo Juarez Jr. rides.

Absolutely True is a proven New Mexico stakes sprinter for trainer Jon Arnett. He won four straight races last summer and fall. In his two most recent outings he was fifth in the Zia Park Express in the mud Nov. 25 and third in the KLAQ Handicap here Dec. 15.