Forty-one state-bred 3-year-old Quarter Horses — headed by multiple graded stakes winner River Flash — are entered in Saturday’s 400-yard New Mexico State Fair Derby (R) trials at Albuquerque Downs.
A homebred son of Chicks Regard racing for Robert M. Driggers and Ben Lee Ivey, River Flash (pictured) brings in a five-race win streak that includes a three-quarter length victory in the April 24, $100,000 New Mexico Breeders’ Stakes (RG3) at SunRay Park, and a 1 3/4-length win as the fastest qualifier in the August 6, $174,000 Zia Derby (RG2) at Ruidoso Downs. The gray gelding has earned $224,465 from eight outs this season, and he is a perfect two-for-two at Albuquerque Downs.
River Flash drew post 3 and will be ridden by Adrian Ramos for trainer Wes Giles in the third of five trials.
Other prominent New Mexico State Fair Derby entries include HS Golden Eagle, a sorrel daughter of Osbaldo trained by Armando Alamos for owner Lucinda Salas Lopez. HS Golden Eagle has banked $81,537 from four starts this year, and her season resume includes a neck victory against older state-bred runners in the May 15, $100,000 Jimmy Drake Stakes (RG3) at SunRay Park.
HS Golden Eagle drew the rail post and will be ridden by Jacob Enriquez in the fifth heat.
The 10 fastest qualifiers will meet in the $160,000-added New Mexico State Fair Derby on September 25.