Zia Park: Strong last-race opposition points out Im a Bear in Permian Basin

Im a Bear’s last-race company line could become quite notable before she runs Sunday in the $55,000 Permian Basin at Zia Park in Hobbs, N.M. At least three of the horses she faced were to start in stakes between Friday and Saturday night, just in advance of Im a Bear going to post as the probable favorite in the Permian Basin.

The Permian Basin is a six-furlong race for 2-year-old fillies and it drew a full field of 12.

Im a Bear last raced in the $100,000 Texas Stallion Stakes at Retama Park on Sept. 24. She finished third to front-running winner Cowgirl N Up, who along with the race’s fifth-place finisher, Miss Lederhosen, was to run back Friday night in the $50,000 E.L. Gaylord at Remington Park. Meanwhile, the runner-up from the Stallion Stakes, Nothinbettertodo, was to start as the probable favorite in Saturday night’s $75,000 La Senorita at Retama.

Im a Bear was making her first start in close to three months in the Stallion Stakes, and would seem poised to move forward Sunday. Her trainer, Jack Bruner, wins at a 38 percent rate with horses making their second start off a layoff. Tom Durant bred and owns Im a Bear, who won her maiden at Lone Star Park in July.

Color Code, who was fourth in the Texas Stallion Stakes at Retama, is also entered in the Permian Basin.

Yellow Chumarine is the winningest member of the Permian Basin field, as well as its lone stakes winner. She is perfect in two starts, capped by an August win in the $25,000 Idaho Cup Juvenile for statebreds at Boise. Vernon Scantling has the mount on Yellow Chumarine, who is a daughter of the Hennessy stallion Chumaree. She races for her breeder, Tom Dougherty, and is trained by Ty Garrett.

Just Text Me last raced at Golden Gate, where she won her debut in a maiden claiming race Sept. 23. She will be making her first start for trainer Henry Dominguez, who is winning with 32 percent of his starters this meet at Zia. The field for the Permian Basin also includes three maidens, with Runge one to consider for her strong series of Beyer Figures.