Stakes winner Downwiththequickness will head Sunday’s 350-yard Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap (RG2) at Sunland Park.

© Coady Photography

SUNLAND PARK, NM—MARCH 3, 2015—Downwiththequickness, a stakes winner against open company in his most recent start, will once again face state-breds in Sunday’s 350-yard, $85,000 Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap (RG2) at Sunland Park.

A homebred 4-year-old Be Real Quick gelding owned by Terry G. Smith of Santaquin, Utah, Downwiththequickness is coming off of a neck victory in the 350-yard, $50,000 KOFX Radio Handicap (G3) at Sunland on January 18. Since the start of his 3-year-old season, the gelding has banked $125,542 from 10 races, and his five wins include a one-length victory as the 7-10 favorite in the 400-yard New Mexico State Fair Breeders’ Derby (RG3) at The Downs at Albuquerque.

Alonso Rivera will ride Downwiththequickness for trainer Willie Padilla from post 4 on Sunday.

Other contenders include Pedro Carrillo’s SC Dustychampion, a stakes winning 4-year-old son of Chicks A Blazin trained by Adam Tapia. A finalist in last year’s $207,000 New Mexico Cup Derby (RG2) at Zia Park, SC Dustychampion won the 400-yard, $50,000 First Moonflash Stakes (R) during the Lineage Day program at The Downs at Albuquerque.

SC Dustychampion drew post 9 and will be ridden by Felipe Garcia-Luna.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey and weight assignments--

1. Klassic Strawfly (Alejandro Medellin, 123)
2. Dashes Best (Larry Gamez, 125)
3. Sandys Jesse (Antonio Escareno, 124)
4. Downwiththequickness (Alonso Rivera, 126)
5. Hot Authorization (Adrian Ramos, 123)
6. You Sexy Fame (Salvador Martinez, 122)
7. Booyah Bay (Jesse Levario, 125)
8. Reckless Wind (Esgar Ramirez, 125)
9. SC Dustychampion (Felipe Garcia-Luna, 123)
10. Jess Got Issues (Jaime P. Leos, 125).