Pavel is set to head 34 state-bred three-year-olds in the Shue Fly Stakes trials at Sunland Park on Saturday

© Coady Media

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

SUNLAND PARK, NM–JANUARY 7, 2025–Thirty-four state-bred newly turned 3-year-olds, led by multiple graded stakes winner Pavel, are entered to make their next starts in Saturday’s 400-yard Shue Fly Stakes (RG2).

A gelded son of Czar Cartel MV owned and trained by Jorge Luis Sanchez Jr., Pavel is coming off of a juvenile campaign during which he won three stakes, including the April 6, $355,000 New Mexican Spring Futurity (RG2) at Sunland Park, and the May 18, $234,000 New Mexico Breeders Futurity (RG3) at SunRay Park. Pavel was a $6,000 yearling purchase at the 2023 New Mexico-Bred Sale at Ruidoso Downs.

Pavel drew post five and will be ridden by Luis Martinez in the second of four trials.

Other prominent Shue Fly trial entries include Alepony LLC’s Harken, a graded stakes winning son of Eye Am King trained by Jesus Soto and a $145,000 yearling buy. Harken has banked $260,422 from his seven outs, and the gelding’s four wins include a nose victory in last year’s Mountain Top Futurity (RG2) at Ruidoso Downs.

Harken drew post four and will be ridden by Sergio Becerra Jr. in the third heat.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will meet on February 2 in the $100,000-added Shue Fly Stakes final.

All Sunland Park races can be seen at Q-Racing Video.com.

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