Sunland Park: Feb. 28 Stakes Spot Plays

Sunland Park's quartet of black-type races originally slated for Sunday will be rescheduled to Tuesday, as reported by Daily Racing Form.

Here are selections for the three supporting stakes on Mine That Bird Derby Day. 

Race 10 – Island Fashion S.

A compact field of five three-year-old fillies will go postward in the one-mile affair. #1 Flying Connection (9-5) burned a lot of money when third in her local stakes debut for conditioner Todd Fincher, but the daughter of Nyquist will race with blinkers off for the first time and improvement is expected. The Zia Princess S. romper is bred to love a route of ground, and she also has the tactical speed to be in the mix from the opening bell. The Kentucky-bred bay will have regular pilot Alfredo Juarez Jr. in the controls.

Race 11 – Red Hedeman Mile

A total of 11 New Mexico-bred sophomores will vie in the $100,000 contest. #7 Antonios Mark (4-1) has improved his Brisnet Speed figure in each career try to date and is proven running a route of ground, too. Marking gelding finished a closing third in a recent stakes endeavor while making his local debut, and the chestnut will improve off the short layoff with added ground to work with. The stalker will have Oscar Ceballos in the stirrups.

Fincher’s #9 Sambas Mark (6-1) also gets a look coming off of a smart maiden win while sprinting on the surface last time out. The bay has never run a bad race and seems like he'll appreciate more ground to navigate. Juarez inherits the mount.

Race 13 – Albert and Henry Dominguez S.

A big field of 11 will vie in the 1 1/16-mile finale. #7 All Chrome (10-1) is not the most reliable win play in the race, but I liked his local prep when an even fourth in an allowance dash, and the Silver Wagon gray has a lot of exotics appeal to me at a price. Lynette Baldwin pupil has put in two solid efforts in succession and will also have a fast early tempo for which to rally into late. Felipe Valdez has the assignment.