New Mexico-Bred Stakes Action Aplenty at Zia Park

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New Mexico-Bred Stakes Action Aplenty at Zia Park
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Photo: Coady Photography
Blazing Navarone wins the 2018 New Mexico Classic Cup Derby Championship

An all-stakes program of 12 races—four for Quarter Horses and eight for Thoroughbreds—showcases New Mexico-breds at Zia Park Oct. 27, topped by the $185,000 Rocky Gulch New Mexico Classic Cup Championship Stakes at a mile.

The richest of the Thoroughbred stakes at the Hobbs, N.M., track, the New Mexico Classic Cup Championship drew a cast of 11, led by 3-1 morning-line favorite Blazing Navarone and 4-1 second choice Hustle Up, top performers in state-bred company. Blazing Navarone has won 10 of 20 starts, including four of six this year, and 3-year-old Hustle Up is 9-for-13 in his career.

Both face obstacles in the race. Blazing Navarone, a Song of Navarone gelding owned by Barbara Coleman and the estate of Henry Dominguez, has not raced since winning the Land of Enchantment Handicap July 28 at Ruidoso Downs. Hustle Up is untested against older horses, a group he faces Sunday.

Dale Taylor Racing, Bobby McQueen, and Suzanne Kirby own Hustle Up, a gelded son of Abstraction who raced in the March 24 Sunland Derby (G3), where he was seventh behind eventual Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) 10th-place finisher Cutting Humor after chasing the pace. One start earlier, he led throughout to take the Feb. 24 Mine That Bird Derby in open 3-year-old company at Sunland Park.

Enrique Gomez will ride Blazing Navarone from post 7 for trainer Martin Valdez-Cabral Jr., and jockey Roimes Chirinos has been given the mount on Hustle Up in post 10 for trainer Todd Fincher. 

The two geldings have speedy styles and could be poised to go toe-to-toe early in a race that starts close to the first of two turns.

A fast pace would benefit defending champion Thunder Dome, who rallied to win last year behind taxing fractions. With a 1-for-5 record in 2019, he is stretched out from sprints and seems positioned to save ground early from post 2 under Ry Eikleberry.

A 5-year-old gelded son of Dome trained by Dallas Barton, he has made $536,413 for owners W. D. Carson Sr., M. H. Carson, and Leach Racing. 

The two next richest Thoroughbred stakes Sunday at Zia Park are the New Mexico Sprint Classic Cup Sprint Championship Stakes and Peppers Pride New Mexico Classic Championship Fillies and Mares Stakes, each worth $175,000.

Both races include horses seeking to defend their titles. Eight-year-old D E Lover, a 16-time winner, is the 3-1 choice for the Sprint after prevailing in a local allowance Oct. 7. He also won the Sprint in 2016. Movin On is the 5-2 favorite for the Fillies and Mares. She comes off two credible runner-up finishes over the summer at Ruidoso.


Entries: New Mexico Classic Cup Sprint Championship S.

Zia Park, Sunday, October 27, 2019, Race 8

  • STK
  • 6f
  • Dirt
  • $175,000
  • 3 yo's & up
  • 3:09 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1D E Lover (NM) Shane Laviolette 121 Richard D. Sedillo 3/1
2 2Gunners One (NM) Luis Negron 124 Justin R. Evans 10/1
3 3Flying Rollex (NM) Francisco Amparan 121 James B. Padgett, II 15/1
4 4Gonna' Rock N Roll (NM) Ry Eikleberry 121 Dick Cappellucci 15/1
5 5Golden Band (NM) Alfredo J. Juarez, Jr. 121 Todd W. Fincher 12/1
6 6Forger (NM) Enrique Portillo Gomez 121 Miguel L. Hernandez 12/1
7 7Red Zenon (NM) Ernesto Valdez-Jiminez 121 Teofilo Garcia, Jr. 8/1
8 8Wheredoesthecashgo (NM) Luis A. Fuentes 121 Joel H. Marr 20/1
9 9Perty Dirty Dude (NM) Francisco Arrieta 121 Dick Cappellucci 8/1
10 10Four Star Saint (NM) Frank Reyes 124 Justin R. Evans 20/1
11 11Rig Time (NM) Juan Ochoa 121 Weston L. Martin 4/1
12 12Mr. Mooch (NM) Casey R. Chavez 124 Rodney C. Richards 6/1


Entries: Peppers Pride New Mexico Classic Championship Fillies and Mares S.

Zia Park, Sunday, October 27, 2019, Race 9

  • STK
  • 1m
  • Dirt
  • $175,000
  • 3 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
  • 3:36 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Movin On (NM) Miguel T. Fuentes, Jr. 120 Joel H. Marr 5/2
2 2McWend (NM) Elvin Gonzalez 120 Miguel L. Hernandez 10/1
3 3To Satisfy You (NM) Luis Negron 120 Justin R. Evans 6/1
4 4McGlorious (NM) Miguel A. Perez 120 Miguel L. Hernandez 20/1
5 5Orogrande (NM) Jansen Melancon 120 Dallas J. Barton 3/1
6 6Pink Cadillac (NM) Luis A. Fuentes 120 Joel H. Marr 10/1
7 7McGoldie (NM) Francisco Arrieta 120 Miguel L. Hernandez 15/1
8 8Wedding Dance (NM) Ry Eikleberry 120 Todd W. Fincher 12/1
9 9Hennessy Express (NM) Roimes Chirinos 123 Todd W. Fincher 4/1
10 10Short Pockets (NM) Enrique Portillo Gomez 120 Bennie L. Woolley, Jr. 30/1


Entries: Rocky Gulch New Mexico Classic Cup Championship S.

Zia Park, Sunday, October 27, 2019, Race 10

  • STK
  • 1m
  • Dirt
  • $185,000
  • 3 yo's & up
  • 4:03 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Go for a Stroll (NM) Francisco Arrieta 120 Todd W. Fincher 5/1
2 2Thunder Dome (NM) Ry Eikleberry 120 Dallas J. Barton 6/1
3 3Quite Peace (NM) Miguel T. Fuentes, Jr. 117 Joel H. Marr 6/1
4 4Shining Source (NM) Shane Laviolette 123 Blake Rust 10/1
5 5Mr. Wild Rockete (NM) Luis A. Fuentes 123 Jimmy C. Collier 12/1
6 6Mr. Digger (NM) Elvin Gonzalez 120 Bart G. Hone 20/1
7 7Blazing Navarone (NM) Enrique Portillo Gomez 123 Martin Valdez-Cabral, Jr. 3/1
8 8Golly Gee (NM) Luis Negron 120 Justin R. Evans 12/1
9 9Dom Strait (NM) Alejandro Medellin 120 Miguel L. Hernandez 30/1
10 10Hustle Up (NM) Roimes Chirinos 120 Todd W. Fincher 4/1
11 11M G Ms Victory Run (NM) Francisco Amparan 120 Alberto Amparan 15/1