Evans starts 2 win machines

Trainer Justin Evans has no beef with the number 5. He’s won the last five training titles at Zia Park, and his charges Redneck Humor and Mt Veeder will bring five-race win streaks into the track’s $50,000 Premier Cup on Monday. But still, there’s another number Evans has a preference for these days.

“Six is our favorite number,” he quipped.

Redneck Humor will be looking for his sixth consecutive stakes win in the Premier Cup, a six-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up. Mt Veeder is moving back into the stakes ranks after winning five races between SunRay Park and The Downs at Albuquerque.

The Premier Cup is the first stakes of the Zia meet, which was to open Saturday. The field of seven also includes Surf N

Ski, who ran six furlongs in a Sunland Park track-record 1:07.40 in January, and Pink Cotton, a winner of three of five starts, including the Duke City Sprint at Albuquerque.

KEY CONTENDERS

Redneck Humor, by Da Stoops Last 3 Beyers: 83-85-87

◗ Redneck Humor last raced July 8, winning the $55,000 Budweiser Special by 2 1/4 lengths at Albuquerque. The victory is part of a streak that started at Sunland in February, when he won the $75,000 Budweiser Handicap.

“He’s 5 for 5 this year, hasn’t been beat this year,” Evans said. “To be 5 for 5 is impressive, then to be 5 for 5 in all stakes races – that’s real impressive.”

◗ Evans said Redneck Humor was freshened after his last start, with the intent of targeting the Premier Cup and the $75,000 Zia Park Sprint on Nov. 22.

◗ Redneck Humor has been The Man in the New Mexico sprint ranks for some time, boasting a series of decisive victories around the state. In addition to his natural speed and talent, he has a bold personality, said Evans.

“He’s always been his own horse,” Evans said. “He’s not going to change. He’s kind of rogue about some stuff. He’s real hard to gallop, real hard to do anything with – he’s his own horse. He’s like a grumpy old man. You’ve just got to get along with him, keep him happy.”

◗ Miguel Perez has the mount from post 6 for owner Earl Neugebauer.

“The horse likes to be outside,” Evans said. “He couldn’t have drawn any better.”

Mt Veeder, by Ghostzapper Last 3 Beyers: 67-76-74

◗ He won the $75,000 Contender in 2015 at Los Alamitos and more recently has won back-to-back optional-claiming races at Albuquerque. Prior to those victories, he won a pair of 870-yard races against Quarter Horses.

“He ran one of the most impressive races you’ve ever seen at 870,” Evans said of an effort June 30. “He looked like he was going to run a bad fourth, was hopelessly beaten, then he just blew by them. I’ve never seen a horse run home like that his last 50 yards.”

◗ Alfredo Juarez Jr. has the mount from post 4.