Field of seven set to go in New Mexico Classic Distaff

HOBBS – Larry E. Young’s First Again looks to earn back-to-back victories Monday at Zia Park when she enters the starting gate as the 7-to-5 morning line favorite in the 21st running of the $150,000 New Mexico Classic Distaff.

Trained by Danny Morales, the 5-year-old mare by Axiomatic will be in search of her second stakes victory of 2025, having captured the Russell and Helen Foutz Distaff for the second consecutive time this past spring at SunRay Park and Casino. Bred in New Mexico by Young, First Again has already reached the winners circle eight times from 28 lifetime starts with earnings of more than $386,000.

First Again won her most recent start earlier this month at Zia Park and has two wins from 10 starts at the 6-furlong distance of the NM Classic Distaff.

Jockey Miguel Perez will have the mount aboard First Again, and the pair will break from post three in the contest, featuring a field of seven which will go as the sixth race on the card with a post time of 2:20 p.m.

The NM Classic Distaff is one of seven stakes races for New Mexico-bred thoroughbreds on the Monday program. The stakes races have combined purses of $1.2 million.

Jacky Brown’s Run Away Bay, looking for her first career stakes victory for trainer Casey Lambert, has been installed as the 3-to-1 second choice on the morning line for the NM Classic Distaff.

The 4-year-old Sway Away filly, bred in New Mexico The Quarter Company LLC, returned from a six-month layoff and was second best in an allowance/optional claiming sprint last month at Albuquerque Downs. 

Run Away Bay has three wins from 13 career starts and has amassed more than $115,000 in earnings. She will be ridden Monday by Ken Tohill and will break from post six in the NM Classic Distaff.

The field, with jockeys and morning line odds for the $150,000 New Mexico Classic Distaff:

1 Right for You 8-1 (Oscar Andrade, Jr)

2 Trust Anabelle 20-1 (Jose Vazquez)

3 First Again 7-5 (Miguel Perez)

4 Queen Hadassah 9-2 (Tracy Hebert)

5 Storm in the Valle 10-1 (Alejandro Medellin)

6 Run Away Bay 3-1 (Ken Tohill)

7 Mark It Down 5-1 (Miguel Fuentes, Jr.)

Photo of First Again courtesy Coady Media