Nine state-bred Quarter Horses, led by multiple stakes winners Big Crush BB (pictured) and River Flash, are entered in Sunday’s 440-yard, $100,000 First Moonflash Maturity (RG2) at Albuquerque Downs.
A 4-year-old son of Big Daddy Cartel racing for Javier M. Chavez from the barn of trainer Jose DeHerrera, Big Crush BB will be making his first career start at the 440-yard distance. However, the gray gelding has won his last four races, all against New Mexico-bred stakes company, including the 400-yard, $50,000 Zia Stakes (RG2) at Ruidoso Downs on July 22.
Big Crush BB drew post 3 and will be ridden by Emilio Tapia.
River Flash will also be making his first start at the classic quarter-mile distance. A homebred 4-year-old son of Chicks Regard racing for Robert M. Driggers and Ben Lee Ivey, the gray gelding is coming off of a neck victory in a 400-yard, $47,400 open-condition allowance race for New Mexico-breds at Albuquerque Downs on September 7.
River Flash has won 10 of 17 starts, including xxx stakes, and he has banked $447,569. The gelding drew post 2 and will be ridden by Adrian Ramos for trainer Wes Giles.
The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments:
HS Golden Eagle (Alejandro Medellin)
River Flash (Adrian Ramos)
Big Crush BB (Emilio Tapia)
Mr Perry Moon (Christian Ramos)
JC New Dawn (Gabriel Arredondo)
No Mires A La Luna (Noe Garcia Jr.)
Man Of Faith (Alfredo Sigala)
HS Paul Walker (Kevin Enriquez-Arenivas)
Classy Moon (Ricky Ramirez)