Florida-bred Good Bye Charlie returns to Sunland Park in Friday’s $65,000 KLAQ Stakes, where he finished second in this race last January. He faces five rivals at five furlongs.
The six-year-old son of Florida stallion Adios Charlie, bred by Tom McCrocklin, races for owner Paul Chavez and trainer Raymond Valerio. Returning from a runner-up effort at Turf Paradise on December 2, the bay gelding has banked $131,188 with eight wins from 27 career starts, including three wins, three seconds, and a third from eight starts at the five-furlong distance for earnings of $69,486. He’s hit the board in 14 of 27 lifetime starts. Luis Reyes gets the call.
Competitive Idea (9-5) heads the field for trainer Dick Cappellucci after finishing fourth in a Zia Park allowance optional claimer. Dean’s List (3-1) enters off a runner-up finish in the same race, while Tizlightning (7-2) returns from a layoff, last seen winning a starter allowance at Los Alamitos in September. California-bred Bart Sip Some and Durango Jess complete the compact field.
The field from the rail: Tizlightning and Edgar Payeras at 7-2, Good Bye Charlie and Luis Reyes at 9-2, Dean’s List and Abel Medellin at 3-1, morning line favorite Competitive Idea and Alfredo Juarez Jr. at 9-5, Bart Sip Some and Juan Cardenas at 10-1, and Durango Jess and Francisco Amparan at 6-1.
