Page 85 - New Mexico Summer 2022

Jimmy Drake Stake (RG3)
Facing aged runners for the first time in her career, Lucina Salas Lopez’s HS Golden Eagle outran her 14-1 odds to win the May 15, $100,000 Jimmy Drake Stakes (RG3) for New Mexico-bred Quarter Horses at SunRay Park.
HS Golden Eagle covered 400 yards in :19.589, and her margin of victory was a neck from 9-5 favorite Bigg Dee. Carlos Guillen Chacon rode the sorrel 3-year-old daughter of Osbaldo for trainer Armando Alamos.
HS Golden Eagle was bred by Hubaldo Solis. Her sire, Osbaldo, is a 13-year-old New Mexico-bred son of the Mr Jess Perry stallion Jesse James Jr. Racing in New Mexico from 2011-17, Osbaldo earned $456,878 from 43 starts, and his five stakes wins included the 2011 New Mexican Spring (RG2) and New Mexico Breeders’ (RG2) futurities.
Osbaldo’s runners include 2020 New Mexico State Fair Juvenile Stake (R) winner Blazinberryberryfast and 2018 New Mexico Cup Futurity (RG2) runner-up HS Paul Walker. A half-brother to 2015 New Mexico Breeders’ Stakes (RG3) winner Blazin Version, he is owned by Hubaldo Solis and stands for a $1,500 fee at Rancho Dorado at Anthony, New Mexico.
HS Golden Eagle’s dam, Catchtherain (TB), is a winning New Mexico-bred daughter of the Gone West (TB) stallion Super Special (TB). A 2006 foal, Catchtherain has produced
one Thoroughbred winner, Cawboybandido (TB), a son of Next Bandit (TB).
HS Golden Eagle’s third dam, the winning Valid Appeal (TB) mare Light Rain (TB), ran third in the 1995 Meritus Stakes at Aqueduct. The filly traces back to her fourth dam, Happy Cherokee (TB), a winning and multiple stakes placed daughter of the Funny Fellow (TB) stallion Cherokee Fellow (TB).
HS Golden Eagle was coming off of
a second-place finish, three-quarters of a length behind winner River Flash, in the April 24, 400-yard New Mexico Breeders’ Stakes (RG3) for state-bred 3-year-olds at SunRay Park. Raced in New Mexico and Arizona, the filly has won three of 11 starts, and the $60,000 winner’s share of the
purse from her second career stakes victory increased her bankroll to $301,048.
HS Golden Eagle’s 2-year-old record included a 1 3/4-length victory at odds of 13-1 in the 400-yard, $396,000 New Mexico State Fair Futurity (RG3) at Albuquerque Downs, and she was a finalist in the 350-yard, $113,060 New Mexico Breeders’ Futurity (RG2) at SunRay Park.
Cowboy Zulu finished third, a half of a length behind HS Golden Eagle. A Flashin
Blu, EZ On My Mind, Mr Yin Yang, Fly On Down, Blazinberryberryfast, El Tarasco 727 and Holland Rock completed the order of finish.
Runner-up Bigg Dee was stretching out in distance off of his half-length victory in the February 12, 350-yard Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap (RG2) for state-breds at Sunland Park. Racing for Rex Wells, who purchased the 4-year- old Big Daddy Cartel gelding as a yearling for $30,000 at the 2019 New Mexico-Bred Sale at Ruidoso Downs, Bigg Dee has earned $447,154 from 19 outs, and his four career stakes victories include last year’s 400-yard, $203,478 Zia Derby (RG2) at Ruidoso Downs.
Cowboy Zulu is a 3-year-old son of the First Down Dash stallion Zulu Dragon campaigned by Chuck Sonnenberg and Fred Danley. The homebred chestnut gelding has won four of 12 starts, and the $10,000 third-place share of the Jimmy Drake Stakes purse pushed his bankroll to $117,865.
HS Golden Eagle’s winning connections include owner Lucina Salas Lopez, trainer Armando Alamos, and jockey Carlos Guillen Chacon.
Photos by Coady Photography
SUNRAY PARK
Osbaldo
Jesse James Jr
Shes So Blazin
Catchtherain
Super Special
Fine Rain
HS GOLDEN EAGLE
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