NM Classic Cup Sprint
ZIA   Race #7   6f   Dirt   Stake
Purse $170.00  For Three Year Olds And Upward Foaled In NM.

1 Speedballz, trained by Nordyke Racing
This five year old was a grade one winner as a three year old but has been mainly competing on the state bred scene since then. His best win of the season came in the Blanca Handicap where racing off top weight he easily won by two lengths with Masterlicious behind but he got beaten by that horse and Haynes Away when carrying a penalty in the RUI Thoroughbred Championship next out. He gets the penalty again today so it will be tough for him to turn the tables

2 Nebraska Diademe, trained by Drabfantasy
Well behind three of his rivals in the RUI Sprint Championship last time its hard to see him turning that around although he did have the outside draw in that race so its not beyond the realms of HRP possibility. Prior to that he had run well from four and a half furlongs to a mile and sixteenth so though he isnt a career sprinter he has proved he has some ability and with a better draw today may run well.

3 Haynes Away, trained by Stone Creek Farm
Took the RUI Thoroughbred championship by a neck with three of his rivals today behind but gets a penalty for that win which makes it very close against them. A winner of five races he has had a busy schedule this year but has performed well enough to put him amongst the favourites.

4 Akimbo, trained by End Run Farm
4th in last years Classic Gulch this will be his third attempt at this race meet. A decent three year old he was second in the TX Mile at grade three and ran some decent races at a good level. This year has seen him lightly raced but he performed pretty well in the NMSU Stakes and the Cole Handicap indicating he has retained some of his ability. He could run well if he is fully wound up but a poor effort in July was the last time we saw him and you would have to take his current form on trust.

5 Masterlicious, trained by Night Rider Stables
A consistent old campaigner he is now seven but running as well as ever. He tried to make all when getting beaten by Speedbalz in the Blanca Handicap and was getting two pounds from the winner that day for a two length beating.  He got the same weight break next out in the RUI Thoroughbred Championship but managed to beat him when second to Haynes Away and through a tangled web of weight penalties may just have the edge today.

SUMMARY
Masterlicious may just have the edge on weights today but a wide draw may give Haynes Away the edge.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded