Graded vets top Veterans field

The Grade 3 winners Harlan Punch and Sudden breaking news bring the best credentials into the $50,000 Veterans on Monday at Zia Park in Hobbs, N.M.

Harlan Punch won the Grade 3 Philip H. Iselin at Monmouth Park in June. Sudden breaking news earned his graded stripes in 2016, in the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn.

The Veterans is a 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds and up. It serves as the local prep for the $150,000 Zia Park Championship at 1 1/8 miles on Nov. 21. The Veterans field of six also includes Sky Defence, a twotime stakes winner last meet at Sunland Park, and Right Lane Lukasz, a son of Temple City and the multiple stakeswinning mare Wrenice.

VETERANS STAKES (RACE 8) KEY CONTENDERS

Harlan Punch, by Harlan’s Holiday Last 3 Beyers: 85-47-97

◗ Following his Iselin win, Harlan Punch made his way to Southern California and ran fifth to current Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile favorite Catalina Cruiser in the Grade 2 San Diego on July 21.

◗ Harlan Punch has made one start since the San Diego, running fourth in a Sept. 8 allowance at the Downs at Albuquerque. He has been working regularly at Zia in advance of the Veterans.

◗ David Jacobson, who owns Harlan Punch, trained him through the San Diego. He has since turned the conditioning duties over to New Mexicobased trainer Justin Evans, who also saddles Raagheb in the Veterans for owner Jacobson.

◗ Harlan Punch is moving back to the distance of his Iselin win. He wired the field at Monmouth, but also has had success stalking, and he could get that kind of trip with a few of his rivals going sprint to route Monday.

◗ Harlan Punch will break from the rail under Shane Laviolette.

Sudden breaking news, by Mineshaft Last 3 Beyers: 73-70-72

◗ He exits the $30,000 Billy the Kid Handicap on the All American Futurity undercard Sept. 3 at Ru id os oD owns. Sudden breaking news, with blinkers added, rallied from next to last for second in the 1 1/16-mile race.

◗Since that out, Sudden breaking news has turned in some sharp works. He drilled five-eighths in a bullet 1:01 on Oct. 5 at Zia and went the same distance at the track one work later, in 1:00.60 on Oct. 16.

◗Sudden breaking news races for Samuel F. Henderson and since his first New Mexico start in June has been trained by Gary Cross.

◗ Ry Eikleberry has the mount from post 5.