How to bet the Mt. Cristo Rey Handicap

A full field of 12 New Mexico-bred runners will dash 5 1/2 panels in Friday’s $90,000 Mt. Cristo Rey H. at Sunland Park. The race will go through #9 Let Him Be (2-1) for conditioner Joel Marr and I will base my plays on the morning-line choice. By Sway Away, the five-year-old is a sterling 4-for-4 on the oval and 11-for-13 lifetime, and while he’s not the flashiest horse in training, the gelding nearly always finds a way. He scored in the Jamison Memorial S. in his latest venture and has every right to improve second off the bench, as well. Regular rider Miguel Fuentes, Jr. will be in the stirrups. 

Mt. Cristo Rey Wagers

• $5 exacta key box 9 with 4,8 ($20)
• 50-cent trifecta 4,9 with 1,4,8,9 with 1,4,8,9 ($12)

#4 Leave Them Behind (8-1) has really upped his game since the winter and looks like the inside speed of the field for 28% conditioner Sherry Armstrong. The five-year-old son of Attila’s Storm is a neck shy of posting four wins in succession leading up to this tilt and had a nice prep when posting a measured allowance victory on the course last time out. The dark bay gelding will be dangerous with a clean break beneath Enrique Gomez. 

Of the two Todd Fincher pupils in the field, I’m a bit more interested in #8 Sambas Mark (10-1) at a big number. The son of Marking was a sharp allowance winner on the surface in his latest venture, and a repeat of that performance will give him every chance to make his presence felt inside the final furlong. Irwin Rosendo picks up the mount aboard the bay. 

#1 Higher Ed (5-1), the other Todd Fincher trainee in the cast, has won or placed in all eight lifetime runs on the grounds and gets the rail for this one. The stakes winner drilled a bullet five panels in advance of Friday and retains Christian Ramos. I expect the son of Sporting Cause to save ground to the top of the lane before being asked for his best.