A field of seven is entered for Sunday’s $250,000 Sunland Park Oaks, but this is one of the Kentucky Oaks prep races that should come down to a three-horse race – one trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, the other two by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen.
Maysam. Benoit Photo.
The Powers Picks
Baffert’s Pick: Maysam
Let’s start with Baffert. He sends out Maysam, a daughter of Game Winner who won by six lengths in her debut on Jan. 24 at Santa Anita. Baffert’s top rider Juan Hernandez, who will also be aboard Getaway Car in the $400,000 Sunland Park Derby a few races later, replaces Edwin Maldanado.
Maysam is the 9-5 favorite, leaving from post 4.
Asmussen’s Choices: Running N Gunning and Enchanting
Asmussen is looking for a second straight Sunland Park Oaks win with Runnin N Gunnin (3-1) and Enchanting (7-2). He won last year with Recharge.
A daughter of Gun Runner, Runnin N Gunnin makes her sixth career start with a maiden win at Horseshoe Indianapolis at third asking, and a 1-mile allowance win at Sam Houston Race Park on Jan. 19. The filly rallied in both victories.
Alfredo Juarez has the call on Runnin N Gunnin from post 2.
Enchanting, also a daughter of Gun Runner, broke her maiden last out, winning at second asking with an easy, three-length victory at Sam Houston on Jan. 19.
Ramon Vazquez rides from post 6.
The top five finishers in the 1-mile Sunland Park Oaks pick up 20-10-6-4-2 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points on a sliding scale.
The other four runners are local but monitor Rogue Justice (10-1), whom Florent Geroux will ride.
Post time for the Sunland Park Oaks is 5:13 p.m. ET.
For those who bet on horse racing …
The picks: 1 Maysam 2 Rogue Justice 3 Runnin N Gunnin
The field for the $250,000 Sunland Park Oaks, from the rail out, with jockey, trainer, odds:
1 Rogue Justice (Florent Geroux, Todd Fincher), 10-1
2 Runnin N Gunnin (Alfredo Juarez, Jr., Steve Asmussen), 3-1
3 Pink Pacific (Tracy Hebert, Gary Cross), 9-2
4 Maysam (Juan Hernandez, Bob Baffert), 9-5
5 Enchanting (Ramon Vazquez, Steve Asmussen), 7-2
6 Street Colors (Enrique Gomez, Luis Rojero), 15-1
7 Stubby (Edwin Gonzalez, Dick Cappellucci), 10-1
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
