Page 218 - Speedhorse February 2020

RACING NEWS
Shue Fly Stakes-RG3
CHAMPAGNE ROOM
by Tracy Gantz
Mac and Janis Murray’s MJ Farms dominated the $226,108 Shue Fly Stakes-RG3 at Sunland Park on Jan. 25.
They own the winner, Champagne Room, and second-place finisher Donelli, and they also bred or co-bred the top three across the finish line: Champagne Room (with Burnett Ranches), Donelli and Jess Tequila Talkin. MJ Farms also bred fifth-place Six Pack Fame and eighth-place Close To Crazy as well.
The Murrays don’t race many of their homebreds because they offer most for sale at public auction. They only keep a few fil- lies to replenish their broodmare band.
“We’ve never been able to go out and buy real quality mares, like a lot of breeders, up until the last two or three years,” Mac said. “So we’ve just bred to the best we could afford to breed to and built up our own.”
That system has worked well. MJ Farms takes a large consignment to the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale and to the New Mexico Bred Yearling Sale. Champagne Room and Donelli were each offered for sale in 2018, but the
Murrays bought them back for $17,000 and $10,000, respectively.
“We kept four fillies last year—two on purpose,” said Mac. “Champagne Room and Donelli we bought back just because they weren’t bringing anywhere close to what we thought they would bring.”
The buyers missed out because Champagne Room and Donelli together have earned $372,848 so far.
Donelli won her Jan 3 trials to the Shue Fly Stakes and qualified the second fastest, while Champagne Room squeaked in at number 10 after a second place finish in her trial heat. The odds reflected that—Donelli went off as the 8-5 favorite and Champagne Room was 24-1.
The Murrays were unable to attend the race, at the last minute.
“We have a breeding farm, and we had a difficult delivery that morning,” said Mac.
“We were afraid of leaving the baby. We were going to go to Albuquerque, which is only 50 miles away, and watch it on the simulcast. We couldn’t even do that.”
The good news is that the foal was progressing well, and the Murrays got to see the Shue Fly on a computer.
Donelli scampered right to the lead at the break, while Champagne Room broke from the outside post
in sixth. Donelli maintained her lead until the top of the stretch. Champange Room, hustled by jockey Alonso Rivera, passed rivals with a late surge, including Donelli, to win by a neck in :19.374 for 400 yards.
“That was just awesome (to run one- two),” said Mac. “That maybe happens once in your lifetime.”
James Padgett II trains Champagne Room for the Murrays. At two in 2019, the New
Sunland Park $226,108 • 400 yards :19.374 • si 92
Corona Cartel
Big Daddy Cartel
Miss Racy Eyes
CHAMPAGNE ROOM, ‘17-f.
Mr Jess Perry
Champagne Perry
Champagne Lane
Champagne Room (#10) and Alonso Rivera are up at the wire to score a neck victory in the $226,108 Shue Fly Stakes-RG3
216 SPEEDHORSE, February 2020
Coady Photography