Page 60 - NMHBA Spring 2020

SUNLAND PARK
NMHBA Stakes (RG2)
by Michael Cusortelli
First Moonflash
First To Flash
Nagano Moon
My Soul Mate
Chicks A Blazin
Love At First Glance
FIRST NEON MOON
Victor Lozano’s First Neon Moon outran his 13-1 odds to win the February 15, 400-yard New Mexico Horse Breeders’ Association Stakes (RG2) for state-bred 3-year-olds at Sunland Park.
Ridden by Raul Herrera for trainer Martin Orona Sr. and aided by a reported 14-mph tail wind, First Neon Moon led at every call en route to a nose victory over Jess Featured Girl. The brown colt earned a 92 speed index while stopping the timer in :19.384.
First Neon Moon was making his first start since December 1, when he ran eighth,
6 1/4 lengths behind winner Mr Jess Jenkins, in the 440-yard, $150,000 Southwest Juvenile Championship (G2) at Zia Park. The colt
was bred by Maegan Cavasos. His sire, First Moonflash, was the sport’s champion aged stallion in 2009.
Raced primarily in New Mexico from 2007-09, First Moonflash earned $969,828 from 25 starts, and his 10 graded stakes victo- ries included the 2008 and ‘09 Championship at Sunland Park (G1). The stallion has sired the earners of more than $18.6 million from eight crops, including champions Flash And Roll, Foxy Moonflash, and Handsome Jack Flash, and graded stakes winners Too Flash For You,
No Mires A La Luna, A Passion For Flashn, and Ryansmanonthemoon.
First Moonflash died after a battle with laminitis on May 29, 2019. He was 14.
First Neon Moon is out of My Soul Mate, a winning 11-year-old daughter of Chicks A Blazin and a finalist in the ’11 New Mexico Cup Futurity (RG2) at Zia Park. His second dam, the unplaced First Down Dash mare Love At First Glance, has produced two stakes winners, including multiple graded stakes winner First Blazin Love.
First Neon Moon traces back to his fifth dam, Noble Nova, a multiple stakes win- ning daughter of the Nasrullah (TB) stallion Novarulla (IRE). Raced exclusively in New Mexico, the colt has won three of eight outs, and the $60,000 winner’s share of the purse from his first stakes score increased his bank- roll to $107,560.
First Neon Moon returned a $29.60 win mutuel and teamed with runner-up Jess Featured Girl for a $362.80 ($2) exacta. Six Pack Fame ran third, a neck behind Jess Featured Girl, to complete a $1 trifecta return of $1,618.70.
Stominado, Runner Chick, 5-2 favorite Champagne Room, Meleros Dash, Don Chuy C, Jess Tequila Talkin, and Finnley completed the order of finish.
Jess Featured Girl is a daughter of the Feature Mr Jess stallion TF Featured Effort campaigned by Sandra Bean. The sorrel filly has won three of nine starts and was a finalist in the January 25, 400-yard Shue Fly Stakes (RG2) at Sunland Park. The $20,000 runner-up share of the NMHBA Stakes purse pushed her earnings to $83,694.
A $26,000 purchase at the 2018 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale, Six Pack Fame has earned $117,389 for his owner, Diamond Racing Stable. The sorrel Jesse James Jr gelding has won two of nine outs, and his resume includes third-place fin- ishes in last year’s Zia Futurity (RG1) at Ruidoso Downs and New Mexican Spring Futurity (RG2) at Sunland Park.
58 New Mexico Horse Breeder