Page 53 - NMHBA Spring 2020

Four Rivers John Deere Stakes (R)
Sent to post as the 7-2 second choice in a field of 11 New Mexico-bred newly turned 3-year- olds, Ancient Land rallied to win the January 5, 6-furlong Four Rivers John Deere Stakes (R) at Sunland Park.
Ancient Land defeated Franchise Tagged by a half of a length in 1:11.16. Luis Contreras rode the dark bay or brown Monterey Jazz gelding for owners Martin Riley, D. Carroll, C. Scott, and J. Howard, and trainer Casey Lambert.
Ancient Land was bred by Dr. Patricia Davis, and he was an $18,000 yearling purchase 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 for a $1,250 fee 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.
Ancient Land was shortening in distance off of his 1 1/4-length victory in the 1-mile & 70-yard, $145,000 Steve Prather Stakes (R) at Zia Park
on December 9. The gelding has won four of
nine races, and the $60,000 winner’s share of the $100,000 Four Rivers John Deere Stakes purse pushed his bankroll to $169,921.
Stormin Fast, a 50-1 longshot, finished third, 1 1/4 lengths behind Ancient Land, and was fol- lowed by Jim Edd Who, West Dawn, Shame On Powers, On A Warpath, Tom T Who, 2-1 favorite Cerveza, Charlie Comanch, and Road To Heat.
A $50,000 yearling purchase at the 2018 New Mexico-Bred Sale, runner-up Franchise Tagged races for Ted Rushing, Lee Owens, B4 Farms LLC, Beaux Davis, Tim Broadfoot, and Dale Alan Doby. The bay Attila’s Storm gelding has won two of six starts and has earned $80,480, and his record includes a third-place finish in the October 27, 6-furlong New Mexico Cup Juvenile Championship (R) at Zia Park.
Stormin Fast races for Dale F. Taylor Racing LLC. The homebred bay son of Attila’s Storm has won one of 11 starts, a 5 1/2-furlong dash for New Mexico-bred $10,000 maiden claimers, and he has earned $51,932.
by Michael Cusortelli
SUNLAND PARK
Monterey Jazz
Thunderello
Reefside
Rodinia
Bluegrass Cat
Fahamore
ANCIENT LAND
SPRING 2020 51