Jess Bein The Hero will be among 10 hopefuls in the $128,500 West Texas Maturity at Sunland Park on Saturday afternoon.

© Dustin Orona Photography

SUNLAND PARK, NM—MARCH 4, 2019—A full field of older horses will contest the 400-yard $128,500 West Texas Maturity at Sunland Park on Saturday afternoon. The feature race of Saturday’s card is an open race for 3-year-olds and up.

Four trials on Feb 15 determined Saturday’s field, led by fastest qualifier Jess Bein the Hero. The Josue Ponce trainee is tough on paper; he has won 11 races and finished out of the exacta only once in his 16 lifetime starts. He enjoyed a five-race win streak in 2018 that included four stakes, and his most recent loss was in December when he finished second to champion Jessies First Down.

Jess Bein The Hero will be ridden by the defending and current leading Quarter Horse jockey at Sunland Park, Manuel Gutierrez. The 6-year old horse was bred in Texas by Curtin Crenwelge, out of the Mr Jess Perry mare Jess Braggin. He is owned by Juan Martinez.

Despite being the second fastest qualifier, #9 Believe Me Irene is 8-1 on the morning line. The only filly or mare in the field, Believe Me Irene is a daughter of Valiant Hero and has never finished worse than second in her four previous races at Sunland or in her three tries at 400 yards.

#2 Walcott developed an affinity for Saturday’s 400-yard distance in 2018. The Tee Cos gelding’s five career wins all came as a 3-year-old in 2018, each at 400 yards. All but one of his 12 career starts has also been at this distance. Walcott has placed third in each of his three prior attempts at Sunland, including his trial behind Jess Bein the Hero and Jacky Martin 21.

Value in the field can be found in #5 Papaws Paint at 10-1. The 4-year-old PYC Paint Your Wagon gelding is trained by Todd Fincher and will be ridden by Bonafacio Perez; together, Fincher and Perez have a 16% win rate. Papaws Paint is the leading money earner in the field, having accumulated $452,812 in 17 starts, and was second in his trial to Believe Me Irene.

The $128,500 West Texas Maturity is Race 9 on Saturday at Sunland Park. Estimated post time is 4:18 pm MT.

The field, by post position, with trainer, jockey and morning-line odds:

1. Ebw Gypsy, Juan Gonzales, Daniel Amaya, 6-1
2. Walcott, Alejandro Chavez, Mauro Salcedo, 4-1
3. Bobby Elvis, Robert Sanderson, Martin Felix, 5-1
4. Jacky Martin 21, Ricardo Armendariz, J.R. Ramirez, 3-1
5. Papaws Paint, Todd Fincher, Bonafacio Perez, 10-1
6. Secretzzoom, Juan Gonzales, Jaime Leos, 12-1
7. Commander N Chief B, Gene Burden, Raul Herrera, 12-1
8. Jess Bein the Hero, Josue Ponce, Manuel Gutierrez, 2-1
9. Believe Me Irene, Jose Muela, Alonso Rivera, 8-1
10. Boogies Special Dash, Jason Giles, Adrian Ramos, 10-1
11. (AE) Jolla Especial, Ricardo Armendariz, Raul Ramirez, Jr., 15-1

Sunland Park is celebrating its 60th season of live racing in the 2018-2019 meet. The current 75-day meet will run through Kentucky Derby weekend for the first time, allowing fans the opportunity to watch the simulcast Derby feed as well as live racing on May 4.