Twelve state-bred stakes races — eight for Thoroughbreds and four for Quarter Horses — were run on Sunday, New Mexico Cup Day at Zia Park in Hobbs.
Trainer Todd Fincher won two of the eight Thoroughbred stakes — the 6-furlong, $100,000 New Mexico Cup Oaks Championship (R) for 3-year-old fillies with Proofisinthepuddin, and the 1-mile, $100,000 Peppers Pride New Mexico Cup Distaff Championship (R) with Slammed.
Jockey Enrique Gomez won two of the Thoroughbred stakes — the 6-furlong, $100,000 New Mexico Cup Derby Championship (R) for 3-year-old colts and geldings with Tucum, and the 6-furlong, $100,000 New Mexico Cup Juvenile Championship (R) for 2-year-old colts and geldings with Wheres Brayden.
Purses totaling $1,506,880 were distributed to participating horsemen. Following is a recap of all 12 stakes, listed in the order they were run. Also rans are listed in their official order of finish.
NEW MEXICO CUP 870 CHAMPIONSHIP (RG3)
Purse, $100,000 — 870 yards
Quarter Horses, 3-year-olds & older
Winner — Moonflash Cat (5G, First Moonflash-Domeinitchy [TB] by Dome [TB])
Owner — Mario A. Ortega
Breeders — Dosi & Norma Alvarez (NM)
Trainer — Sherry Armstrong
Jockey — Luis Negron
Winning Time — :45.500
Winning Margin — 1 3/4 lengths
Odds — 4-5 (favorite)
Also Ran — Why Buy The Cow, Bigg Jack, El Tarasco 727, Dan The Flashman, Noreason Fordiamonds, Call Me Kash, and Mr. Big.
NAMEHIMASTREAKER NEW MEXICO CUP CHAMPIONSHIP (RG1)
Purse, $100,000 — 440 yards
Quarter Horses, 3-year-olds & older
Winner — Don Chuy C (4S, First Moonflash-Jess Say Bye Bye by Spit Curl Jess)
Owner — Jesus Carrasco
Breeder — Mike Abraham (NM)
Trainer — Jaime Aldavaz Sr.
Jockey — Mario Gutierrez
Winning Time — :21.328
Winning Margin — neck
Odds — 3-1 (favorite)
Also Ran — Colby James, Marcus Medallion, No Mires A La Luna, Diamond And A Half, Flashing Moolah, Burn One Down For Me, Your Easy Jess, Effortless Candy Cash, and Freedom Flash.
NEW MEXICO CUP DERBY (RG2)
Purse, $205,940 — 400 yards
Quarter Horses, 3-year-olds
Winner — Woodys Gold (3G, Woodbridge-All About Gold [TB] by Gold Case [TB])
Owner — Cavenaugh Quarter Horses LLC
Breeder — MJ Farms (NM)
Trainer — Clint Crawford
Jockey — Jorge Torres
Winning Time — :19.327
Winning Margin — neck
Odds — 9-1
Also Ran — Chicky Chicky Kai, Bigg Dee (3-2 favorite), Leading Cartel, Hollyn Bootie, Nolans Dragon, Roll Big River, Dragon On Ice, Mallone, and Sheza Fast Jesse.
NEW MEXICO CUP FUTURITY (RG2)
Purse, $300,940 — 350 yards
Quarter Horses, 2-year-olds
Winner — Flashin Fire (2G, First Moonflash-Episode Of Fire by Walk Thru Fire)
Owner — Josefina Guzman
Breeders — Donna McPherson and Mike Abraham (NM)
Trainer — Santos Carrizales Jr.
Jockey — Juan Pulido
Winning Time — :17.480
Winning Margin — neck
Odds — 11-10 (favorite)
Also Ran — Jess Ring The Bell, Daddies Wish, Liarliarlegsonfire, LMG First Call, RZ Richy, Illegal Review, Jesses Dinero, Rally Up The Alley, and Smittin.
NEW MEXICO CUP OAKS CHAMPIONSHIP (R)
Purse, $100,000 — 6 furlongs
Thoroughbreds, 3-year-old fillies
Winner — Proofsinthepuddin (3F, Marking-Follow My Tail by Indian Charlie)
Owner — Reliance Ranches LLC
Breeders — Brad King and Todd Fincher
Trainer — Todd Fincher
Jockey — Roimes Chirinos
Winning Time — 1:10.74
Winning Margin — nose
Odds — 1-2 (favorite)
Also Ran — Line Call, Marking Time, Speedy Wildcat, Quatro, Desertrose Oftexas, Fill The Bill.
NEW MEXICO CUP DERBY CHAMPIONSHIP (R)
Purse, $100,000 — 6 furlongs
Thoroughbreds, 3-year-old colts & geldings
Winner — Tucum (3G, King Bull-Last Danz by Danzatore)
Owner & Breeder –Tucumcari Thoroughbreds (NM)
Trainer — Danny Morales
Jockey — Enrique Gomez
Winning Time — 1:09.69
Winning Margin — 4 lengths
Odds — 7-1
Also Ran — Cheese Tray, Izeright, Champ Spirit, One Mark (9-10 favorite), B A Champion, Ilikerollin, and Aisle Runner.
NEW MEXICO CUP LASSIE CHAMPIONSHIP (R)
Purse, $100,000 — 6 furlongs
Thoroughbreds, 2-year-old fillies
Winner — Bella Dona (2F, Attila’s Storm-Charlotte’s Drone by B.G.’s Drone)
Owners — Robert M. Driggers, Del Rae Driggers, and Ben Lee Ivey
Breeders — Robert Driggers and Del Rae Driggers (NM)
Trainer — Simon Buechler
Jockey — Luis Fuentes
Winning Time — 1:11.54
Winning Margin — 5 1/4 lengths
Odds — 1-10 (favorite)
Also Ran — Sunny Jewel, Running For Grace, Foxy Red, Indian Excellence, Bernice Who, Emmys Silver, and Hear Me Roar.
NEW MEXICO CUP DISTAFF SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP (R)
Purse, $100,000 — 6 furlongs
Thoroughbreds, fillies & mares, 3-year-olds & older
Winner — Sheza Dandy R F (5M, Attila’s Storm-Dandy Devona R F by Real Dandy
Owner — Cesar Mendoza
Breeder — Rogers Farms (NM)
Trainer — Robert Rivera
Jockey — Casey Chavez
Winning Time — 1:10.70
Winning Margin — 1/2 length
Odds — 6-1
Also Ran — Let It Roll, Tight Fittin Jeans (3-2 favorite), Sexy Bikini Model, Lemon Drop Gold, Tutta Terlingua, Blue Blazes Who, and Shezapackinpunches.
NEW MEXICO CUP JUVENILE CHAMPIONSHIP (R)
Purse, $100,000 — 6 furlongs
Thoroughbreds, 2-year-old colts & geldings
Winner — Wheres Brayden (2G, Artful Run-Little Mandate by Full Mandate)
Owner & Breeder — R. Dwain Yarbar (NM)
Trainer — Greg Green
Jockey — Enrique Gomez
Winning Time — 1:11.15
Winning Margin — 4 lengths
Odds — 9-2
Also Ran — Reads Pet Zenon, Rig Rider, Lonzo Who, Lead Monterey, Zenfully Zesty, Action Junky (9-10 favorite), Real Penny, Mark’s Warrior, and Truely Right.
PEPPERS PRIDE NEW MEXICO CUP DISTAFF CHAMPIONSHIP (R)
Purse, $100,000 — 1 mile
Thoroughbreds, fillies & mares, 3-year-olds & older
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
Winning Time — 1:37.71
Winning Margin — 4 3/4 lengths
Odds — 1-10 (favorite)
Also Ran — Our Time To Shine, Short Pockets, Movin On, McWend, Autumn Touch, Dixie Jen, Passion Belle, Dancinstardustlady, and Shugs Charlie.
NEW MEXICO CUP SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP (R)
Purse, $100,000 — 6 furlongs
Thoroughbreds, 3-year-olds & older
Winner — Strawberry Whisky (4G, Fusaichi Zenon [JPN]-Strawberry Pet by Petionville)
Owner — Celio E. Trujillo Jr.
Breeder — Michael Weatherly
Trainer — Celio Trujillo Jr.
Jockey — Aldo Arboleda
Winning Time — 1:10.11
Winning Margin — 1 length
Odds — 50-1
Also Ran — Evacuee, Hollywood Henry (5-2 favorite), Monterey Secret, Stormin Fast, Golden Band, Wheredoesthecashgo, Reining Pesos, Cerveza, Hold Me Only, and Del Mar Summer.
ROCKY GULCH NEW MEXICO CUP CHAMPIONSHIP (R)
Purse, $100,000 — 1 mile
Thoroughbreds, 3-year-olds & older
Winner — Jet N G (6G, Mr. Trieste-Book The Cat by Tabasco Cat)
Owner — Maurcenia Cross
Breeders — Maurcenia Cross and Gary Cross
Trainer — Gary Cross
Jockey — Rigo Sarmiento
Winning Time — 1:37.32
Winning Margin — 1 length
Odds — 4-1
Also Ran — Storm Bayou, Next Affair, Shining Source, Trust N Prayer, Thunder Dome, West Dawn, Effort N Results, Ancient Land (5-2 favorite), Spinning Black, Courage N Order, and Sunscreen.