The 18th annual New Mexico Cup weekend will begin with a Saturday stakes tripleheader at Zia Park.
Saturday’s stakes action kicks off with the 400-yard, $40,000 New Mexico Cup Sophomore Stakes (R) for state-bred 3-year-old Quarter Horses. Nine are entered, led by Bob and Sissie McClure’s Holland Rock. A homebred son of Rock Solid Jess trained by Fred Danley, Holland Rock has earned $126,929 from 20 starts, and the gelding was a finalist in the 400-yard, $288,000 New Mexico State Fair Derby (R) at Albuquerque Downs on September 25.
Holland Rock’s record includes a second-place finish in last year’s New Mexico State Fair Futurity (RG3). The gelding drew post 4 and will be ridden by Noe Garcia Jr.
The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments:
FS Power Maxx (Emilio Tapia)
Incitatus Moon (Carlos Guillen Chacon)
Just de Vine (Kevin Enriquez-Arenivas)
Holland Rock (Noe Garcia Jr.)
RZ Richy (Gerardo Vera)
EBW Pistol Pete (Luis A. Flores-Garcia)
Long Pour (Sergio Becerra Jr.)
Jess E Wood (Jacob Enriquez)
Mr Chicks Blazin (Jaime Parga Leos)
Also on Saturday, a dozen state-bred 2-year-olds are entered in the 350-yard, $40,000 New Mexico Cup Juvenile Stakes (R).
The early favorite, Jose Aguilar Mendoza’s Gemologist (pictured), drew post 6 and will be ridden by Luis Martinez for trainer Eloy Navarro. A $9,000 yearling purchase at last year’s New Mexico-Bred Sale, the Jess A Chicks gelding brings in a three-race win streak that includes a half-length victory in the 400-yard, $50,000 Zia Juvenile Invitational Stakes (R) at Ruidoso Downs on August 7.
The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments:
Mires a La Luna (Emilio Tapia)
Kings Touch (Ricky Ramirez)
Fancyinallofus (Adrian Ramos)
Dontmesswiththelady (Jose D. Ruiz)
Pandemic (Gerardo Vera)
Gemologist (Luis Martinez)
Chicks Cutie (Mario Delgado)
MM The Gray Rocket (Jaime Parga Leos)
Fine Am Eye (Noe Garcia Jr.)
Nine Walks (Christian Ramos)
AE-Daddys First Fire (Jaime Parga Leos)
AE-EBW One Dancing Fool (Luis A. Flores-Garcia)
Mi Moonflash, a stakes-winning daughter of champion First Moonflash, heads a field of 12 state-bred fillies and mares entered in the 350-yard, $40,000 New Mexico Cup Distaff Stakes (R).
Trained by Todd Fincher for owners Pierre Amestoy Jr., Leslie Amestoy and Mike Abraham, Mi Moonflash is coming off of a wire-to-wire victory in the inaugural 350-yard, $55,000 Champagne Lane Stakes (R) at Albuquerque Downs on October 1. The 5-year-old mare has banked $213,157 from 21 outs, and she began her season with a second-place run, 1 1/4 lengths behind winner Cat Daddys Lil Girl, in the January 15, $100,000 Lou Wooten/Sydney Valentini Handicap (R) at Sunland Park.
Mi Moonflash drew post 10 and will be ridden by Alfredo Sigala.
The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments:
Eyes On Mollie (Christian Ramos)
Tina Katarina (Carlos Guillen Chacon)
First Flashin (Emilio Tapia)
Hearts Mystic Rime (Paul Nieto)
Crown N Royal Gal (Jaime Parga Leos)
Osberryfast (Jorge Nieto-Saenz)
La Bella Julia (Jose D. Ruiz)
Icy Morning Breeze (Juan Rivas)
Streak Jess Memory (Jacob Enriquez)
Mi Moonflash (Alfredo Sigala)
AE-Direct Deposit FS (Gerardo Vera)
AE-U Got The Look (Gerardo Vera)