Hubaldo Solis’ HS Paul Walker (pictured) and Byron Woodard’s No Mires A La Luna head a full field of New Mexico-bred Quarter Horses entered in Saturday’s 350-yard, $100,000 Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap (RG2) at Sunland Park.
A homebred son of the Jesse James Jr stallion Osbaldo trained by Alfredo Gomez, HS Paul Walker made his 7-year-old debut with a neck victory in the 400-yard, $100,000 Red or Green Stakes (RG2) at Sunland Park on January 7. The gray gelding drew post 7 and will be ridden by Hector Aldrete.
No Mires A La Luna is coming off of a sixth-place finish, two lengths behind winner Flash Bak, in the open 440-yard, $100,000 Zia Park Championship (G1) on December 11. The homebred 7-year-old son of champion First Moonflash earned $134,210 from eight races last year and won the 440-yard, $75,000 First Moonflash Maturity (RG2) at Albuquerque Downs, and the 440-yard, $125,000 Namehimastreaker New Mexico Cup Championship (RG1) at Zia Park.
No Mires A La Luna drew post 8 and will be ridden by Sergio Dominguez for trainer Ebert Munoz.
The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey and weight assignments and morning-line odds:
Fly On Down (Juan C. Rivas, 127), 4-1
Spiritonthemountain (Omar Iturralde, 122), 15-1
Dragon On Ice (Randy Vega, 125), 10-1
Diezs Daylight (Adrian Ramos, 123), 15-1
Bigg Dee (Mario Delgado, 127), 5-1
Hunky McGoo (Federico Martinez, 124), 12-1
HS Paul Walker (Hector Aldrete, 128), 5-2
No Mires A La Luna (Sergio Dominguez, 127), 6-1
Cowboy Zulu (Noe Garcia Jr., 125), 12-1
Jess Ring The Bell (Luis Martinez, 124), 8-1
AE-The Calling (Angel Marquez, 121), 15-1
AE-Tuco Salamanca (Hector Aldrete, 121), 20-1