Jose E. Guzman’s Flashin Fire (pictured, white cap), a gelded son of champion First Moonflash, is the fastest qualifier to the August 1, $319,804 Zia Futurity (RG1) for New Mexico-bred 2-year-olds.
Racing in the fifth of 10 400-yard trials at Ruidoso Downs on June 16, Flashin Fire broke his maiden with a half-length victory over second-fastest qualifier Wine Dont Lie. The sorrel gelding stopped the timer in :19.721. Juan Pulido rode Flashin Fire for trainer Santos Carrizales Jr.
Flashin Fire was bred by Donna McPherson and Mike Abraham, and he was claimed by Guzman for $20,000 at Remington Park on April 11. He is out of Episode Of Fire, a daughter of the First Down Dash stallion Walk Thru Fire.
Flashin Fire has won one of three starts and has earned $4,231.
Wine Dont Lie covered 400 yards in :19.779 under jockey Mario Delgado. Casey Lambert prepped the Big Daddy Cartel filly for owners Haskell E. Rich and Jacque M. Rich.
Wine Dont Lie was bred by Mac and Janis Murray’s MJ Farms at Veguita, New Mexico, and she was a $24,000 yearling purchase at last year’s New Mexico-Bred Sale. The filly has banked $4,358 from three races.
Wine Dont Lie is out of Fine Wines, a winning homebred daughter of First Down Dash.
Third-fastest qualifier Daddys Mony, a daughter of Big Daddy Cartel campaigned by Julie A. Schoenhofer and Maricela Vasquez, won the final trial by 2 1/2 lengths in :19.841. Adrian Ramos rode the sorrel filly for trainer Albert Valles.
Daddys Mony has won one of three outs and has banked $13,407. The filly was bred by MJ Farms, and she was purchased by her owners for $34,500 at last year’s New Mexico-Bred Sale.
The complete list of Zia Futurity qualifiers appears below:
| Horse (Sex, Pedigree) | Owner | Breeder (State) | Trainer | Time |
| FLASHIN FIRE G, First Moonflash-Episode Of Fire by Walk Thru Fire | Jose E. Guzman | Donna McPherson and Mike Abraham (NM) | Santos Carrizales Jr. | :19.721 |
| WINE DONT LIE F, Big Daddy Cartel-Fine Wines by First Down Dash | Haskell E. Rich and Jacque M. Rich | MJ Farms (NM) | Casey Lambert | :19.779 |
| DADDYS MONY F, Big Daddy Cartel-Jenna James by Jesse James Jr | Julie A. Schoenhofer and Maricela Vasquez | MJ Farms (NM) | Albert Valles | :19.841 |
| AZARA F, A Royal Jess-Camelia by Tempting Dash | MRB Racing LLC | Elva Palma (NM) | Manuel Rodolfo Rodriguez | :19.921 |
| FIRST FEATURE F, First Moonflash-Rebas Feature by Feature Mr Jess | Miguel Y. Gallegos and Mauricio Gallegos | W.L. & Dee Mooring and JMC Ranches (NM) | Albert Valles | :19.930 |
| RENIKA F, Big Daddy Cartel-Woodys Allstar by Woodbridge | Triple R Racing Stables LLC | MJ Farms (NM) | Jason L. Driver | :19.937 |
| JESS RING THE BELL G, Jess A Chicks-First Tinkerbell by First Down Dash | NJ Farms LLC | W.L. & Dee Mooring (NM) | Albert Valles | :19.953 |
| TICKLE THE NICKEL F, Big Daddy Cartel-Penny Snatchin by Gone To The Mountain | Jill B. Giles and Kathy Lee | Jill Giles (NM) | Wes Giles | :19.967 |
| LONG POUR G, Big Daddy Cartel-White Wine Glass by Swissle Stick (TB) | Taft Farms LLC | MJ Farms (NM) | James J. Gonzales II | :19.967 |
| COWBOY ZULU G, Zulu Dragon-First Cowgirl Flash by First Moonflash | Fred I. Danley and Chuck Sonnenberg | Fred Danley (NM) | Fred Danley | :19.990 |