Quarter Horse Freedom Flash and Thoroughbred Hollywood Henry (pictured), a pair of multiple stakes winners, will each make their next starts in Saturday’s 870-yard, $100,000 Starr Western Wear Stakes (R) for New Mexico-breds at Sunland Park.
A homebred 7-year-old son of champion First Moonflash trained by Todd Fincher for owners Pierre Amestoy Jr., Leslie Amestoy, and Roger K. Beasley, Freedom Flash is coming off of a second-place finish, six lengths behind winner Big Dynasty, in the 870-yard, $75,000 King Rick Rack Stakes (G3) at Zia Park on December 11. The gelding has won two graded stakes, including last year’s 870-yard, $125,000 New Mexico Cup 870 Championship (RG3) at Zia Park.
Freedom Flash drew post 5 and will be ridden by Alfredo Sigala.
Hollywood Henry races for Bennie A. Vanecek from the barn of trainer Fred Danley. A $17,500 yearling purchase at the 2017 New Mexico-Bred Sale at Ruidoso Downs, the 8-year-old Roll Hennessy Roll gelding has won 13 of 38 races and has earned $474,641, and his four wins at Sunland Park include a 1 3/4-length victory in last year’s 4 1/2-furlong, $100,000 Mt. Cristo Rey Handicap (R) for New Mexico-bred Thoroughbreds.
Hollywood Henry drew post 3 and will be ridden by Miguel Fuentes Jr.
The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey and weight assignments and morning-line odds:
El Vital (Hector Aldrete, 122), 8-1
Rosies Bolt (Jose M. Vazquez, 124), 6-1
Hollywood Henry [TB] (Miguel Fuentes Jr., 126), 3-1
Noreason Fordiamonds (Daniel Amaya, 121), 20-1
Freedom Flash (Alfredo Sigala, 127), 5-2
Dan The Flashman (Christian Ramos, 121), 12-1
Why Buy The Cow (Ken Tohill, 123), 6-1
Lifes A Dannce (Francisco Amparan, 120), 10-1
AE-Big Hitter [TB] (Hector Aldrete, 123), 20-1
AE-Lariat [TB] (Francisco Amparan, 123), 10-1