Page 63 - 17 August 2012

Zia Futurity-rG1
GoNNA CHA CHA
by Stacy Pigott
on a day devoted to New Mexico-bred racehorses, Gonna Cha Cha shined the brightest, winning the $395,028 Zia
Futurity-RG1 during the Zia Festival at Ruidoso Downs on July 29. Nearly $1.2 mil- lion in purse money was up for grabs on Zia Festival day, with Gonna Cha Cha taking
a large chuck of that total—$165,912 to be exact—for winning the Zia Futurity.
Ridden by Cody Wainscott, Gonna Cha Cha broke a step slow from post position eight while Runin Sixes and The Four Js sprinted
to the early lead. From the far outside, favored Rex Hill drifted in and put some pressure on Gonna Cha Cha, who maintained his focus and kept his mind on running, overtaking the field to win by a head in :19.927.
A 9-1 outsider in the Zia Futurity, Gonna Cha Cha kept his perfect record intact, win- ning his third race in as many starts. Trained by Juan Gonzalez, Gonna Cha Cha broke his maiden on June 3, then handily won his Zia trial by two lengths, setting the fifth-fastest qualifying time for the finals. His career earn- ings now stand at $173,412.
“We don’t like to start them too early,”
said Norma Alvarez, who bred the colt with her husband, Dosi, and co-owns him with her sister-in-law Brenda Alvarez and friend Debra Laney. “He did the perfect thing. He had one maiden race, then went to the trials very lightly raced but with enough experience.”
Gonna Cha Cha is the first stakes winner
to represent his sire, Gonna Ro Sham Bo. He
is also the first foal to race for his dam, the unraced Thoroughbred mare Domeinitchy. His second dam, Perfect Present, raced in Texas, winning one start and $12,270. She is a half- sister to the dam of stakes winners Lunarpal, Lunarlady and Lunargal.
“We loved how she looked and moved—she moved beautifully when she was a yearling,” Alvarez said of Domeinitchy, who fell in the pasture and injured her shoulder as a yearling, ending any chance of a racing career. “She looks like a Quarter Horse, she moves beauti- fully, and I love her breeding as far as sprinting Thoroughbreds go. I wanted to do a little bit of experimental breeding with her.”
Third generation farmers, Dosi and Norma Alvarez own a 1,200-acre certified organic farm in La Union, New Mexico, where their major crop is Pima Cotton. They are also market breeders with a horse farm in Anthony, New Mexico. As a rule, they keep only one
horse to race each year. This year, however, they have two 2-year-olds on the track, thanks in part to Debra Laney.
“We keep all of Debbie’s horses.
She does the same thing we do, she
breeds for market and maybe keeps
one to race,” Alvarez said. “She would
come out and see this baby and she
always loved him. I was going to put
him in the sale, and Debra said, ‘Why
don’t you put a price on him, and we’ll partner up.”
Alvarez’s sister-in-law, Brenda Alvarez,
also joined the partnership and is experienc- ing the thrill of owning her first racehorse. “They think it’s pretty easy,” Alvarez said with a laugh. “They are just over the moon. They think this is pretty cool.”
Gonna Cha Cha joined another home- bred, Vancouver Moon, in the Alvarez stable for 2012. A filly out of the Alvarez’s New Mexico Champion Broodmare Nagano Moon, Vancouver Moon finished second in the Rainbow Futurity-G1 on July 22. Both horses are expected to enter the All American Futurity-G1 trials on Aug. 16—Gonna Cha Cha as a $50,000 supplement—giving the Alvarezes their first shot at the All American.
“He looks so strong, the 440 shouldn’t bother him,” Alvarez said of Gonna Cha Cha. “I think he’ll like it; I think he’ll eat it up.”
Finishing second in the Zia Futurity was second-fastest qualifier The Four Js (Get
Down Perry-Invisible Streaker). Fred Danley trains the gelding, who is owned by David Barrett and J & SM Inc. G.R. Carter Jr. rode The Four Js, who ran fourth in the New Mexican Spring Fling at Sunland Park in April. The Four Js is a
half-brother to 2011 Zia Derby winner New Mexico Streaker.
Finishing third in the Zia Futurity was Runin Sixes (Sixes Royal-Perfect Sevens). Owned by Pete Gallegos, Valle Guadiana Corp. and Patricia Gonzalez, Runin Sixes
is trained by Juan Gonzaelz. The filly has finished first or second in all five of her starts, although this is her first stakes final. Runin Sixes’ half-brother, Caliente Colt, finished sec- ond in the Zia Derby on the same racing card.
Completing the field in the Zia Futurity were fastest qualifier and Mountain Top Futurity winner Junior June Bug (Jesse James Jr-Sandy June Bug), Tombstone (Get Down Perry-Because Shes Royal), Rex Hill (Jesse James Jr-Tangled Vines), Cmon Jessies Girl (Jesse James Jr-Hot Babe Indy Suds), Es Dove (Jesse James Jr-Smart Alibi Lady), Jessiana (Jesse James Jr-Oriana’s Magic-TB), and Rabbits Rabbit (Rabbits Rainbow-Shines Likea Diamond).
Ruidoso Downs $395,028 • 400 yards :19.927 • si 85
Real Runaway
Gonna Ro Sham Bo
First By Far
GONNA CHA CHA, ’10-g.
Dome
Domeinitchy-TB
Perfect Present
Gonna Cha Cha and Cody Wainscott score the victory in the $395,028 Zia Futurity at Ruidoso Downs.
SPEEDHORSE, August 17, 2012 61
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