Nine New Mexico-bred stakes — five for Thoroughbreds and four for Quarter Horses — were contested at Ruidoso Downs during the track’s annual Zia Festival, held July 31-August 1.

A total of 10,217 fans attended the two-day event — 6,365 on July 31 and 3,852 on August 1. This attendance represented a 1-percent increase over the pre-COVID 2019 Zia Festival, which drew 10,092 over two days.

Total wagering for the two-day Zia Festival reached $1,932,776, which represented a 82-percent increase over 2019, when $1,061,191 was bet over the two days.

Jose E. Guzman’s Flashin Fire (pictured) won the festival’s richest race, the $319,804 Zia Futurity (RG1) for state-bred 2-year-old Quarter Horses. Guzman claimed the son of champion First Moonflash for $20,000 at Remington Park on April 11, and the gelding earned $134,318 from his second win in four outs and first stakes victory.

Following is a recap of all nine races, listed in the order they were run. Also rans are listed in order of finish.

SIERRA STARLET STAKES
New Mexico-bred 3-year-old fillies
Purse, $50,000 — 5 1/2 furlongs
Winner — Slammed (3F, Marking-Hennesey Smash by Roll Hennessy Roll)
Owners — Fincher Racing LLC, Brad King and Suzanne Kirby
Breeders — Brad King and Todd Fincher (NM)
Trainer — Todd Fincher
Jockey — Tracy Hebert
Margin of Victory — 11 lengths
Time — 1:02.36
Odds — 19-10
Also Rans — Proofsinthepuddin (7-5 favorite), Comic Hot Toddy, Speedy Wildcat, Desertrose Oftexas, Line Call, Quatro, Destiny Who, Atill I Chime, Marking Time, and Shame On Bea.

ZIA QUARTER HORSE STAKES (RG2)
New Mexico-breds, 3-year-olds & older
Purse, $40,000 — 400 yards
Winner — No Mires A La Luna (5G, First Moonflash-Dont Looke Ethel by Genuine Strawfly)
Owner & Breeder — Byron R. Woodard (NM)
Trainer — Marc Jungers
Jockey — Lucas Constantin
Margin of Victory — 1/2 length
Time — :19.563
Odds — 11-1
Also Rans — Marcus Medallion, Effortless Candy Cat, Flashing Moolah, Colby James (17-10 favorite), Amandas Flashy, Perrys Regard, Flash The Corona, Jess A Satin Flash, and Freedom Flash.

SIERRA BLANCA STAKES
New Mexico-breds, 3-year-olds & older
Purse, $50,000 — 5 1/2 furlongs
Winner — Hollywood Henry (6G, Roll Hennessy Roll-Ringback by Gone Hollywood)
Owner — Bennie A. Vanecek
Breeder — Fred Alexander (NM)
Trainer — Fred Danley
Jockey — Duane Sterling
Margin of Victory — 5 3/4 lengths
Time — 1:02.33
Odds — 6-1
Also Rans — Courage N Order, Golden Band, Franchise Tagged, Cerveza, Del Mar Summer, Wheredoesthecashgo (17-10 favorite), Hold Me Only, Big Hitter, Attilianno, No Pasa Nada, E J’s Gold.

ZIA QUARTER HORSE DERBY (RG2)
New Mexico-bred Quarter Horses, 3-year-olds
Purse, $203,478 — 400 yards
Winner — Bigg Dee (3G, Big Daddy Cartel-Miss Woody Dee by Woodbridge)
Owner — Rex Wells
Breeders — MJ Farms (NM)
Trainer — James Gonzales II
Jockey — Mario Delgado
Margin of Victory — nose
Time — :19.604
Odds — 2-1 (favorite)
Also Rans — Fanncee, Hollyn Bootie, Woodys Gold, Out N Gone, Icy Morning Breeze, Roll Big River, Leading Cartel, Eagles And Dragons.

LAND OF ENCHANTMENT HANDICAP
New Mexico-breds, 3-year-olds & older
Purse, $50,000 — 7 1/2 furlongs
Winner — Ancient Land (4G, Monterey Jazz-Rodinia by Bluegrass Cat)
Owners — Martin Riley, D. Carroll,, C.Scott and J. Howard
Breeder — Dr. Patricia Davis (NM)
Trainer — Casey Lambert
Jockey — Kelsi Purcell
Margin of Victory — 6 1/2 lengths
Time — 1:30.78
Odds — 5-2
Also Rans — Thunder Dome (9-5 favorite), Storm Bayou, Jet N G, Effort N Results, Charlie Comanch, Spinning Black, Evacuee, West Dawn, Next Affair.

LINCOLN HANDICAP
New Mexico-bred fillies & mares, 3-year-olds & older
Purse, $50,000 — 5 1/2 furlongs
Winner — Flight Song (5M, Attila’s Storm-Hang Glide by Dome)
Owners — Pierre J. Amestoy Jr., Leslie A. Amestoy, and Roger K. Beasley
Breeder — R.D. Hubbard (NM)
Trainer — James Lackey
Jockey — Luis Rodriguez
Margin of Victory — 3/4 of a length
Time — 1:03.79
Odds — 9-1
Also Rans — Let It Roll, Count Them Again (11-10 favorite), Lemon Drop Gold, Movin On, Tutta Terlingua, Questa.

ZIA QUARTER HORSE JUVENILE STAKES (R)
New Mexico-bred 2-year-olds
Purse, $50,000 — 400 yards
Winner — LMG First Call (2G, First Moonflash-Call Me 333 by One Sweet Jess)
Owner & Breeder — LMG Racing Inc. (NM)
Trainer — Mike Joiner
Jockey — Raul Valenzuela
Margin of Victory — neck
Time — :19.866
Odds — 5-1
Also Rans — Jaunt, Daddys Wish, Ms Flashin Ivory, Liarliarlegsonfire, Dennarro, Pennie Wize, Bad Kompany (19-10 favorite), Touraine.

ROAD RUNNER STAKES
New Mexico-bred 3-year-olds
Purse, $50,000 — 5 1/2 furlongs
Winner — Izeright (3G, Right Rigger-Vowsmakemeblush by Desert God)
Owner & Breeder — Gaylon McGee (NM)
Trainer — Bart Hone
Jockey — Miguel Perez
Margin of Victory — head
Time — 1:03.55
Odds — 5-2
Also Rans — Awesome Storm (6-5 favorite), Cheese Tray, My Storm Warrior, Delbert Too, Ilikerollin, Sarge, Aisle Runner, Champ Spirit, Digger’s Gold.

ZIA QUARTER HORSE FUTURITY (RG1)
New Mexico-bred 2-year-olds
Purse, $319,804 — 400 yards
Winner — Flashin Fire (2G, First Moonflash-Episode Of Fire by Walk Thru Fire)
Owner — Jose E. Guzman
Breeder — Donna McPherson and Mike Abraham (NM)
Trainer — Santos Carrizales Jr.
Jockey — Juan Pulido
Margin of Victory — neck
Time — :20.008
Odds — 3-1
Also Rans — Cowboy Zulu, Daddys Mony, Wine Dont Lie, Azara, Long Pour, Renika, Tickle The Nickel, Jess Ring The Bell.