Page 48 - Speedhorse February 2018

RUNNING DRAGON si 93, $702,217
Champion 3-Year-Old Filly
Breeder: By By JJ Limited Partnership Owner: By By JJ LLC
Trainers: Juan Gonzalez & Samuel Robledo Jockey: Adrian Ramos
2017 Record: 10-4(4)-1(1)-2(1), $328,384, NM Fillies & Mares Champ.-RG1, Shue Fly S.-RG2, NMHBA S.-RG2, Sunburst S.-RG3, 2nd Zia D.-RG2, 3rd Namehimastreaker NM Cl.-RG1, fnl. Jess Burner Mem. H.-RG1
Rosella & Nahum Prieto of El Paso, Texas, not only bred and raced Champion Running Dragon, they have nurtured the family for generations.
It began with Quick Step Disco, Running Dragon’s third dam. Rosella raced that filly, who won the 1994 Ruidoso Horse Sale Futurity-G3 at Sunland. She bred and raced the second dam, Banking Disco, and the Prietos bred and raced the first dam, Banking Lane, in the name of their By By JJ LLC.
The Prietos also raced Reagal Eagle, who finished second in the 2013 All American Futurity-G1. Reagal Eagle earned $467,790 on the track and is now standing at stud at Armstrong Equine Services in La Mesa, New Mexico.
New Mexico-bred Running Dragon at 2
in 2016 won seven of nine races, including
the New Mexican Spring Futurity-RG2 and Mountain Top Futurity-RG3. She ran second to Magnifico Dragon in the New Mexico Classic Futurity-G2, both of the runners by the New Mexico-based stallion Zulu Dragon.
“When she was beaten by Magnifico Dragon in that race, she had the 10 hole and Magnifico drew post 1,” said Juan Gonzalez Jr., assistant to trainer Juan Gonzalez. “I don’t think she even noticed that Magnifico had beaten her.”
Running Dragon exacted her revenge on Magnifico Dragon in her first 2017 start, the finals for the Shue Fly Stakes-RG2. This time the two were side-by-side in the starting gate.
“She’s super competitive, one of the most competitive horses we’ve ever had in our barn,” said Gonzalez Jr. “If she has a fast horse draw next to her on the track, she’s going to do everything in her power not to let that horse beat her.”
That’s exactly what happened in the Shue Fly final, as Running Dragon defeated Magnifico Dragon by 1/2-length.
It was the first of three consecutive graded stakes wins at Sunland Park for Running Dragon, who added the New Mexico HBA Stakes-G2 and Sunburst Stakes-G3. Before the year finished, she collected two stakes-placings and a gritty neck victory in the New Mexico Fillies and Mares Championship Stakes-G1, the latter at Zia Park.
New Mexico Fillies & Mares Championship-RG1
First Down Dash
Zulu Dragon
Hidden Dragon
Dash For Cash
First Prize Rose
Dean Miracle
Rocket Wrangler Find A Buyer TB Gallant Jet Rose Bug Streakin Six
Our Third Delight Pathbender
Kari L.
Storm Bird Terlingua Relaunch
Royal Advocator Dash For Cash Rockete Elaine Disco Jerry TB Quickstep Lady
Rocket Bar TB Go Galla Go To Market Hide And Seek Jet Deck
Leo Jewel
Lady Bug’s Moon Casco Rose Easy Six
Miss Assured Reb’s Policy TB Tiny’s Delight Never Bend Dream Path Pleasure Ridge Cook’s Flame
Northern Dancer South Ocean Secretariat Crimson Saint
In Reality
Foggy Note Majestic Prince Precious Elaine Rocket Wrangler Find A Buyer TB Easy Jet
Rocket Elaine Never Dance Sea Bouquet
Oh Jet Van
Kaye Hornet
Three Bars Golden Rocket Go Man Go
La Galla Win Market Wise Pretty Does Alibhai Scattered
Moon Deck
Miss Night Bar Leo
Linda Jewel
Top Moon
FL Lady Bug Levan
Prissy Hankins Easy Jet
Peggy Toro
Little Request TB Assured
New Policy Yenoh Reb
Tiny Watch Gay’s Delight Nasrullah
Lalun Ambehaving
Ilea
What A Pleasure Cue Me In What’s Cookin Miss Straw
Nearctic Natalma
New Providence Shining Sun Bold Ruler Somethingroyal Crimson Satan Bolero Rose Intentionally
My Dear Girl
The Axe
Silver Song Raise A Native Gay Hostess Advocator Imgoinaway Rocket Bar TB Go Galla Go
To Market
Hide And Seek Jet Deck
Lena’s Bar TB Rocket Bar TB Moolah Me Never Bend Exclusive Dancer Crewman
Sweet Blossom Three Oh’s
Miss Jet Van
Air Freight Gazelle Bar
K. Leigh TB RUNNING DRAGON, ’14, F.
Storm Cat Devon Lane TB
Banking Lane
Banking Disco
To The Hunt
Strait To The Bank
Quick Step Disco
46 SPEEDHORSE, February 2018
Coady Photography