Page 50 - NMHBA Spring 2020

ZIA PARK
Story by Michael Cusortelli • Photos by Coady Photography
Steve Prather Stakes (R)
Monterey Jazz
Thunderello
Reefside
Rodinia
Bluegrass Cat
Fahamore
ANCIENT LAND
Ancient Land, a dark bay or brown son
of Monterey Jazz, ended his 2-year-old cam- paign with an upset victory in the December 9, $145,000 Steve Prather Stakes (R) for New Mexico-bred juveniles at Zia Park.
Trained by Casey Lambert for the partner- ship of Martin Riley, D. Carroll, C. Scott, and J. Howard, Ancient Land covered 1-mile & 70-yards on a sealed track officially labeled “wet-fast” in 1:45.86. Ernesto Valdez-Jiminez rode the gelding, who was sent to post at odds of 8-1 in the field of 11.
Ancient Land was bred by Dr. Patricia Davis, and he was an $18,000 yearling purchase at the 2018 New Mexico-Bred Sale at Ruidoso Downs. The gelding is one of 11 winners from 23 starters sired by Monterey Jazz.
Raced from 2006-12, Monterey Jazz earned $760,841 from 37 races, and his four graded stakes victories included the 2008 Strub Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park and ‘09 American Handicap (G2) at Hollywood Park. Monterey Jazz entered stud in 2013, and he has sired the earners of more than $536,000 from five crops.
Monterey Jazz is owned by C. Warren Franklin, and he stands at Sierra Blanca Equine at Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico.
Ancient Land is also one of two winners from as many starters foaled by Rodinia, a winning 10-year-old daughter of the Storm Cat stallion
Bluegrass Cat. His second dam, Fahamore, is a daughter of the Mr. Prospector stallion Gulch who produced four winners from six start-
ers, including Akilina, a half-sister to Rodinia who won two stakes at Belmont Park and Fair Grounds Racecourse in 2009.
Ancient Land traces back to his fourth dam, Classy Cathy, a daughter of Private Account who won three Grade 1 stakes in ‘86, including the Alabama Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park. Classy Cathy was a full sister to listed stakes winners Testy Trestle and Ms. Margi, and she foaled Placerville, the winner of the 1993 Prince Of Wales Stakes (G2) in England.
Campaigned exclusively in New Mexico, Ancient Land has won three of eight starts, and the $87,000 winner’s share of the purse from his first stakes victory pushed his earnings to $109,921. The gelding was also a finalist in the September 2, 5 1/2-furlong Rio Grande Senor Futurity (R) at Ruidoso Downs.
Go Now Go finished second, 1 1/4 lengths behind Ancient Land. Evacuee, On A Warpath, Cerveza, Road To Heat, Nobody Knows Who, View From The Bay, Shame On Powers, Tom T Who, and More Action completed the order of finish.
Go Now Go has won one of seven outs and has banked $59,436 for his owners, Bobby J.
McQueen, Glen Robertson, and Dale F. Taylor Racing LLC. A $31,000 yearling buy at the 2018 New Mexico-Bred Sale, the dark bay or brown Laugh Track gelding was coming off of a 2 1/4-length victory in a 1-mile, $36,000 maiden- special-weight race at Zia Park on November 17.
Evacuee has won earned $117,626 from five starts for his owners, R.D. Hubbard, Paul Blanchard, and Doug Benson, who acquired the son of the Pulpit stallion Abstraction
for $30,000 at the 2018 New Mexico-Bred Sale. The dark bay or brown gelding’s resume includes a come-from-behind, neck victory in the 6-furlong, $196,632 New Mexico State Fair Futurity (R) at Albuquerque Downs on September 22.
48 New Mexico Horse Breeder