Holy Hank appears to stand out as morning line choice in NM Classic Derby
HOBBS – Six-time stakes winner Holy Hank will enter the starting gate as the 8-to-5 morning line favorite in Monday’s 21st running of the $150,000 New Mexico Classic Derby, the 10th and final race of an extraordinary program at Zia Park featuring the best state-bred thoroughbreds.
Owned by Robert M. & Del Rae Driggers and Ben Lee Ivey, Holy Hank is in search of his fifth win in 2025, having already won the Corralito Steak House Stakes as well as the New Mexico Breeders Derby at Sunland Park.
The son of Holy Lute also went out of state to capture the Rod Galloway Thoroughbred Derby last summer at Wyoming Downs before winning the Casino at the Downs Thoroughbred Derby last month at Albuquerque Downs.
Bred in New Mexico by Robert, DelRae Driggers & Ben Ivey, Holy Hank has eight wins from 13 career starts and has amassed more than $532,000 in earnings. As a 2-year-old, Holy Hank won the New Mexico State Fair TB Futurity and the New Mexico Classic Juvenile.
Holy Hank drew post six in the 6 1/2 furlong NM Classic Derby, and is slated to be ridden by Luis Valenzuela. The race has a field of 11 starters and is scheduled to reach the starting gate at 4:08 p.m.
Drawn just to the inside of Holy Hank is Mojica, owned by Don S. Apodaca and trained by Filiberto Quiroz.
Mojoca, a two-time stakes winner including a victory over Holy Hank in the Kendrick Stakes last May at SunRay Park and Casino, is the 9-to-2 second choice on the morning line for the NM Classic Derby.
A son of Marking bred in New Mexico by Don Apodaca, Mojica has earned more than $166,000 while winning three times from six starts. He will be ridden by Jose Vazquez.
Recent maiden winner American Ranger BB has been installed as the 8-to-1 third choice on the morning line for the NM Classic Derby. Owned and bred by Box K Racing, the Joel Marr-trained son of American Anthem returned from a near-eight month layoff and rolled to a 12 1/4 length maiden win over this course in his third career start.
Miguel Fuentes, Jr. has the mount aboard American Ranger BB in the New Mexico Classic Derby. The pair will break from the inside post.
Also listed at 8-to-1 on the morning line is Short Round Bound, a son of Runaway Ghost trained by Casey Lambert.
Owned by Casey T. Lambert and Jake Brown, Short Round Bound is a two-time winner from 10 starts with more than $113,000 in career earnings. Bred in New Mexico by Mike Abraham, Short Round Bound was a romping winner over allowance company over this course in his most recent start.
Short Round Bound drew post four in the NM Classic Derby and will be piloted by Alfredo Juarez, Jr.
The field, with morning line odds and jockeys for the $150,000 New Mexico Classic Derby:
1 American Ranger BB 8-1 (Miguel Fuentes, Jr.)
2 My Peaches 20-1 (Enrique Gomez)
3 American Storm 20-1 (Felipe Valdez)
4 Short Round Bound 8-1 (Alfredo Juarez, Jr.)
5 Mojica 9-2 (Jose Vazquez)
6 Holy Hank 8-5 (Luis Valenzuela)
7 B Bold Charlie 8-1 (Elvin Gonzalez)
8 Attila’s Last Call 10-1 (Christian Ramos)
9 Green Is the Daddy 50-1 (Ken Tohill)
10 Ghostly Chance 10-1 (Aldo Arboleda)
11 Holy Rebel 12-1 (Guillermo Rodriguez)