Fifteen stakes restricted to state-bred Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses were contested during New Mexico Cup weekend, October 29-30, at Zia Park.
Three Quarter Horse stakes were run on October 29, and these were followed by 12 more stakes — eight for Thoroughbreds and four for Quarter Horses — on October 30. Wagering handle on October 30 totaled $934,482, of which $79,857 was wagered on track and $854,625 was bet off track. This year’s total handle marked a 13-percent increase over last year’s total wagering handle of $829,587.
Following is a recap of all 15 stakes, listed in the order they were run. Also rans are listed in official order of finish.
NEW MEXICO CUP SOPHOMORE QUARTER HORSE STAKES
Purse, $40,000 — 400 yards
3-year-olds
Winner — EBW Pistol Pete (G, First Moonflash-EBW Pistol Annie by PYC Paint Your Wagon)
Owners & Breeders — Ernies & Brenda Wood
Trainer — Chris Zamora
Jockey — Christian Ramos
Winning Time — :19.870
Winning Margin — nose
Odds — 5.80-1
Also Rans — Mr Chicks Blazin, Holland Rock (1-1 favorite), Just de Vine, Long Pour, RZ Richy, Incitatus Moon, Jess E Wood, and FS Power Maxx.
NEW MEXICO CUP JUVENILE QUARTER HORSE STAKES
Purse, $40,000 — 350 yards
2-year-olds
Winner — Kings Touch (G, Eye Am King-Physical Touch by Heza Fast Dash)
Owners — Jay Glover and Gary Stallings
Trainer — Casey Lambert
Jockey — Ricky Ramirez
Winning Time — :17.454
Winning Margin — neck
Odds — 5.80-1
Also Rans — Nine Walks, Mires A La Luna, Gemologist (19-10 favorite), MM The Gray Rocket, Fine Am Eye, Fancyinallofus, Pandemic, and Dontmesswiththelady.
NEW MEXICO CUP DISTAFF QUARTER HORSE STAKES
Purse, $40,000 — 350 yards
Fillies & mares, 3-year-olds & older
Winner — Mi Moonflash (5M, First Moonflash-Mi Camila [TB] by Southern Halo)
Owners & Breeders — Pierre Amestoy Jr., Leslie Amestoy, and Roger K. Beasley.
Trainer — Todd Fincher
Jockey — Alfredo Sigala
Winning Time — :17.458
Winning Margin — neck
Odds — 8-5 (favorite)
Also Rans — First Flashin, Hearts Mystic Rime, Tina Katerina, Crown N Royal Gal, La Bella Julia, Icy Morning Breeze, Streak Jess Memory, Eyes On Mollie, and Osberryfast.
NEW MEXICO CUP 870 CHAMPIONSHIP
Purse, $125,000 — 870 yards
3-year-olds & older
Winner — Freedom Flash (6G, First Moonflash-Mi Camila [TB] by Southern Halo)
Owners — Pierre J. Amestoy Jr., Leslie Amestoy, and Roger K. Beasley
Breeders — Pierre & Leslie Amestoy and Roger Beasley
Trainer — Todd Fincher
Jockey — Alfredo Sigala
Winning Time — :44.818
Winning Margin — 1 1/2 lengths
Odds — 3-1
Also Rans — Roll Big River, Rosies Bolt, Why Buy The Cow, Cartels Joker, Moonflash Cat (8-5 favorite), Mr Big, Noreason Fordiamonds.
NAMEHIMASTREAKER NEW MEXICO CUP QH CHAMPIONSHIP (RG1)
Purse, $125,000 — 440 yards
3-year-olds & older
Winner — No Mires A La Luna (6G, First Moonflash-Dont Looke Ethel by Genuine Strawfly)
Owner & Breeder — Byron R. Woodard
Trainer — Ebert Munoz
Jockey — Noe Garcia Jr.
Winning Time — 21.706
Winning Margin — neck
Odds — 5.10-1
Also Rans — Bigg Dee, Don Chuy C, HS Paul Walker (5-2 favorite), Fly On Down, HS Hawk, Dragon On Ice, Man Of Faith, and Spiritonthemountain.
NEW MEXICO CUP QH DERBY (RG2)
Purse, $215,715 — 400 yards
3-year-olds
Winner — Classy Moon (G, First Moonflash-Shez Classy Now by Now I Know)
Owners & Breeders — Bob & Sissie McClure
Trainer — Fred Danley
Jockey — Noe Garcia Jr.
Winning Time — :19.616
Winning Margin — neck
Odds — 2.10-1
Also Rans — Hunky McGoo, Passeanna, Wine Dont Lie, Z Ya, JC New Dawn (2-1 favorite), Chicksbabycartel, Daddys Mony, Cowboy Zulu.
NEW MEXICO CUP QH FUTURITY (RG2)
Purse, $350,730 — 350 yards
2-year-olds
Winner — First Lady On Canvas (F, First Moonflash-Paint On Canvas by PYC Paint Your Wagon)
Owner & Breeder — MRB Racing LLC
Trainer — Xavier Rodriguez
Jockey — Esgar Ramirez
Winning Time — :17.507
Winning Margin — 3/4 of a length
Odds — 3.90-1
Also Rans — Flash Divine, RC Jessa Flashn, Elisas Esperance, Flash Me The Price, Flecha Gris, Would Be You, Moon Jumpn Jessica, Ima Alertly, Mr Tres Effort (8-5 favorite).
NEW MEXICO CUP OAKS CHAMPIONSHIP
Purse, $125,000 — 6 furlongs
3-year-old fillies
Winner — Bella Dona (F, 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
Trainer — Simon Buechler
Jockey — Luis Fuentes
Winning Time — 1:09.79
Winning Margin — 3 1/4 lengths
Odds — 1-20 (favorite)
Also Rans — Desert Spirit, Right For You, Miss Ability, and Soundofme Notcalln.
PEPPERS PRIDE NEW MEXICO CUP DISTAFF CHAMPIONSHIP
Purse, $125,000 — 1 mile
Fillies & mares, 3-year-olds & older
Winner — Our Time To Shine (4F, Laugh Track-Shinestein by Premeditation)
Owners — Nancy Summers, Scott R. Bean, and James D. Masek
Breeder — Roger K. Beasley
Trainer — Nancy Summers
Jockey — Francisco Amparan
Winning Time — 1:39.11
Winning Margin — nose
Odds — 7.50-1
Also Ran — Corrina Corrina (3-10 favorite), Short Pockets, Desertrose Oftexas, No Regrets N Love, Autumn Touch, Flaxy Lady, and Special Pride.
NEW MEXICO CUP LASSIE CHAMPIONSHIP
Purse, $125,000 — 6 furlongs
2-year-old fillies
Winners — Seventh St Diamond (F, Marking-Grand Flame by Le Grande Danseur) and Bryns Mark (F, Marking-Bryn’s Fancy Pants by Southwestern Heat)
Owners — Rex Williams (Seventh St Diamond), Dale F. Taylor Racing LLC (Bryns Mark)
Breeders — Rex Williams (Seventh St Diamond), Dale Taylor & Debbie Taylor (Bryns Mark)
Trainers — Dick Cappelucci (Seventh St Diamond), Todd Fincher (Bryns Mark)
Jockeys — Joree Scriver (Seventh St Diamond), Alfredo Juarez Jr. (Bryns Mark)
Winning Time — 1:11.52
Winning Margin — one length (from third place)
Odds — 3.90-1 (Seventh St. Diamond) and 3-1 (favorite, Bryns Mark)
Also Ran — Mama Was A Rocket, Doer Not A Faker, Bellamundo, Attilas Angel, Diamond Mine, and Metros Lil Pollie.
NEW MEXICO CUP DERBY CHAMPIONSHIP
Purse, $125,000 — 6 furlongs
3-year-old colts and geldings
Winner — Bodie Got Gold (G, Holy Lute-Bodie’s Gold by Bodemeister)
Owner & Breeder — Brian Mundell
Trainer — Bart Hone
Jockey — Enrique Gomez
Winning Time — 1:09.92
Winning Margin — neck
Odds — 14.40-1
Also Ran — Diabolical Storm (13-10 favorite), I Think I’m Here, Massive Roar, Go Red Rascal, Bye Bye Matty P, Majorwayhome, and Zenfully Zesty.
ROCKY GULCH NEW MEXICO CUP CHAMPIONSHIP
Purse, $125,000 — 1 mile
3-year-olds & older
Winner — Thunder Dome (8G, Dome-Lauren Lynn by Hadif)
Owners — Mike H. Carson and Bill Carson
Breeders — Frank Richardson and Mooring
Trainer — Dallas Barton
Jockey — Rigo Sarmiento
Winning Time — 1:38.15
Winning Margin — 3/4 of a length
Odds — 6.70-1
Also Ran — Cheese Tray, Masterclass, Comet Causey, Storm Bayou (3-1 favorite), Elliot, One Mark, Half Court Sam, Color Me Gone, and Jet N G.
NEW MEXICO CUP DISTAFF SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP
Purse, $125,000 — 6 furlongs
3-year-olds & older
Winner — Shugs Charlie (5M, Shame On Charlie-Shug’s Spirit by Diabolical)
Owners — Humberto Munoz and Karla J. Munoz
Breeder — Barbara Brown
Trainer — Filiberto Quiroz
Jockey — Christian Ramos
Winning Time — 1:10.85
Winning Margin — 1 1/4 lengths
Odds — 35.10-1
Also Ran — For Markeese, Quatro, Tutta Terlingua, Bikini Time, Caycee’s Mark, Sheza Dandy R F, Proofsinthepuddin (17-10 favorite), Tight Fittin Jeans, Sexy Bikini Model, and Rox From Navarone.
NEW MEXICO CUP JUVENILE CHAMPIONSHIP
Purse, $125,000 — 6 furlongs
2-year-old colts & geldings
Winner — Smartsrealgood (G, Sway Away-Poised By Design by Montbrook)
Owners — Greg Green, R. Dwain Yarbar, and Duncan Hamlin
Breeders — Greg Green and Dwain Yarbar
Trainer — Greg Green
Jockey — Francisco Amparan
Winning Time — 1:11.15
Winning Margin — two lengths
Odds — 10.70-1
Also Ran — Nostrangrtotherain, Musics My Vice, Beach Runner, New Mexico Jeremy, Sense Of Urgency, Danjerus Storm, Storm Leader (2-5 favorite), Tatas Joe Mark, and Rig It Right.
NEW MEXICO CUP SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP
Purse, $125,000 — 6 furlongs
3-year-olds & older
Winner — Strawberry Whisky (5G, Fusaichi Zenon [JPN]-Strawberry Pet by Petionville)
Owner & Trainer — Celio E. Trujillo Jr.
Breeder — Mike Weatherly
Jockey — Aldo Arboleda
Winning Time — 1:09.64
Winning Margin — neck
Odds — 3.60-1
Also Ran — All Chrome, Delbert Too, McThanks, Lariat, No Pasa Nada (2.60-1 favorite), Diabolical Gator, Izeright, Cerveza, Desert Reward, On A Warpath, and Monterey Secret.