Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Rose's Desert, a homebred 4-year-old Desert God filly racing for Joe Peacock, is the 5-2 morning-line favorite for Saturday's 1-mile, $110,000 Sydney Valentini Handicap (R) for New Mexico-bred distaffers at Sunland Park.
Trained by Todd Fincher, Rose's Desert will be making her first start since December 11, when she scored a 3 1/4-length victory in the 6-furlong, $110,000 New Mexico State Racing Commission Handicap (R) at Sunland. The filly has won four of five races, including two stakes, and has earned $217,885.
Rose's Desert will carry top weight of 122 and will be ridden by Juan Ochoa from post 10.
Rose's Desert's nine opponents include Michael Stinson's Iplaytricks, a stakes-winning 4-year-old Desert God filly coming off of a 1-mile allowance-optional claiming win on December 31, and Cali Baby, a 6-year-old mare by the late Thatsusintheolbean who has won four stakes for her owners, Chris P. Hourigan and UKUSA Stables.
The complete lineup for the Sydney Valentini, including jockey and weight assignments and morning-line odds – Time For Deception (Alejandro Medellin, 114), 20-1; Elvira Who (Ry Eikleberry, 118), 8-1; Desert Tap (Miguel Perez, 116), 20-1; Cali Baby (Alfredo Juarez Jr., 120), 7-2; Soaring Goddess (Duane Sterling, 115), 15-1; Highspeed Rescue (Kelsi Purcell, 115), 20-1; Jengoneby (Ricardo Jaime, 115), 10-1; Devon's Spirit (Enrique Gomez, 116), 8-1; Iplaytricks (Ken Tohill, 119), 3-1; and Rose's Desert (Juan Ochoa, 122), 5-2.
Scheduled post time for the Sydney Valentini is 4:05 p.m. (MST).