Fifty-two registered New Mexico-bred 3-year-old Quarter Horses are entered in Saturday’s Shue Fly Stakes (RG2) at Sunland Park.
The 10 fastest qualifiers from Saturday’s six 400-yard heats will meet in the January 28, $125,000-added Shue Fly Stakes final.
MRB Racing LLC’s First Lady On Canvas, a homebred daughter of champion First Moonflash trained by Manuel Rodriguez, brings in a three-race win streak that includes a three-quarter length victory in the October 30, $351,000 New Mexico Cup Futurity (RG2) at Zia Park. The bay filly has earned $187,443 from seven races, all in New Mexico.
First Lady On Canvas drew post 2 and will be ridden by Esgar Ramirez in the third trial.
Another graded stakes winner from last season, Jesses Wish (pictured) drew post 8 and will be ridden by Angel Marquez. A $50,000 yearling purchase at the 2021 New Mexico-Bred Sale, the gelded son of Jesse James Jr is trained by Jose Ignacio DeHerrera for owners Javier M. Chavez and Heysol Howlet. He banked $154,165 from six starts last year, and his two wins included a neck victory in the 300-yard, $313,000 New Mexican Spring Futurity (RG2) at Sunland Park in April.
Kings Touch ended his juvenile season with a two-race win streak that included a neck victory in the 350-yard, $40,000 New Mexico Cup Juvenile Stakes (R) at Zia Park on October 29. Casey Lambert trains the Eye Am King gelding and $10,000 yearling purchase for owners Jay Glover and Gary Stallings.
Kings Touch drew post 5 and will be ridden by Christian Ramos in the fourth heat.