Page 174 - January 2019

Lou Wooten/Sydney Valentini Handicap-RG2
FIRST N FOREVER
by Michael Cusortelli
First N Forever, campaigned by Robert Elliott and Billy L. Smith, ended her 3-year-old season with a victory in the
$85,000 Lou Wooten/Sydney Valentini Handicap-RG2 for New Mexico-bred fillies and mares at Sunland Park on Dec. 30.
Ridden by Felipe Garcia-Luna and aided by a reported 7-mph tail wind, First N Forever defeated odds-on favorite
Mamacita Cartel by a neck
in :19.772 while posting
an 84 speed index. Justin
Joiner prepped the filly, who
banked $51,000 from her
first career stakes win.
First N Forever was coming off of a second-place finish, 1 1/4-lengths behind winner Mamacita Cartel,
in the 400-yard $145,000 New Mexico Filly & Mare Championship-RG1 at
Zia Park on Dec. 2. Raced
Jess Burner Memorial Handicap-RG1
exclusively in New Mexico, First N Forever has won two of 11 starts and has banked $148,115, of which $122,102 was pocketed in 2018.
First N Forever was bred by Mike
Abraham in New Mexico. First N Forever was a $9,000 yearling purchase at the 2016 New Mexico-Bred Sale at Ruidoso Downs. The filly is one of three winners from five starters out
of 2-time stakes winner Eye Am Forever Yours. She won the 2006 Real Wind Stakes as well as the 2008 Carmel Handicap and was second in the 2006 Grade 3 Animas Handicap and a finalist in the 2007 Grade 2 Sunland Park Winter Derby.
First N Forever is a half-sister to Forever Your Fire, winner of the 2013 Hadtobenuts Derby at Sandy Downs. Her third dam, win- ner Southern Streaker, ran
second in Champion My Easy Credit’s 1977 Rainbow Derby at Ruidoso Downs and raced in that season’s Champion of Champions at Los Alamitos.
Mamacita Cartel (Big Daddy Cartel-Posies Woodette) was second under Edgar Martinez for trainer Cynthia Gonzalez. She is owned by David Bloomer.
Mason A. King’s Regard The Rose (Chicks Regard-Not Sable Shes Rose) and Alfredo Triana Jr. were third for trainer Alfredo Triana.
Moon River (First Moonflash-A Medley Of Chicks), Hollywoodcrown (Heza Motor Scooter-Hollywood Gone TB), Everybuddys Talkin (Gonna Ro Sham Bo-Kat Kora), Leftlane (Big Daddy Cartel-Champagne Perry), Hardtookiss (Hard Hitting-Tres Veses) and Sixie Won (Ketel Won-Shelbys Twiggy) completed the order of finish.
before we decide. He was a New Mexico-bred Ruidoso sale purchase. Gary Hartstack gave $14,000 for him, and the rest is history.”
Percyjones (Jesse James Jr-Maggies Miracle LX) deadheated with Mr Klee for second under Tanner Thedford for owners Terry & Irene Stennett and trainer Trey Wood. Mr Klee (Jesse James Jr-Ms Klee) was ridden by Alan Hernandez for owner Sergio Holguin and trainer Ricardo Armendariz.
Jesse Lane (Jesse James Jr-Champagne Lane) was fourth and was followed by Magnifico Dragon (Zulu Dragon-Cassies Mag), Bigg Daddy (Big Daddy Cartel-Alice
K White), Siximoons (First Moonflash-Stevie Six), Swiss White Wine (Swissle Stick TB-Alice K White), Comin To Your Town (Jesse James Jr-BTB Express) & Jess Hot (Jess A Chicks-Hot Babe Indy Suds).
DADDYS BLUSHING
by Danny Camp
It was a rainy day at Sunland Park for the $85,000 Jess Burner Memorial Handicap-RG1 on Dec. 28. The weather didn’t dampen the
spirits of Daddys Blushing, as he sprinted to his third career stakes victory.
He stepped away from the 2-post on top under Francisco Calderon. Riding hard, Calderon kept Daddys Blushings a head in front when they crossed the line.
They completed the 400 yards in :19.665, posting an 87 speed index.
Daddys Blushing secured the $51,000 winner’s share of the purse for owner Gary Hartstack and trainer Jackie Riddle, boosting the geld- ing’s total lifetime earnings to $290,442.
He now has a race record of 11-6(3)-1(1)-3(1), which includes victories in the Mountain Top Futurity-RG3 and Sam Houston Juvenile Stakes in 2017.
MJ Farms bred Daddys Blushing out of unraced Sandy June Bug. She has produced 100% money earners from 15 starters, includ- ing Junior June Bug, winner of the 2013 Zia Derby-RG3 and the 2012 Mountain Top Futurity. Daddys Blushing is the third stakes winner in the brood as well as the top earner.
“He’s a gentle and kind horse,” said trainer Jackie Riddle. “He’s good to be around and trains like a champ.
“We gave him a few weeks off last month and he came back strong,” she continued. “We stand him in the gates once in a while just to keep him sharp. The morning of the race, I got him out to walk a little while and he walked me instead.”
When asked about his future Jackie added, “We are not sure where we’re headed with this guy. We’re going to give him a few more days
170 SPEEDHORSE, January 2019
Sunland Park $85,000 • 400 yards :19.772 • si 84
First To Flash
First Moonflash
Nagano Moon
FIRST N FOREVER, ‘15-f.
Mr Eye Opener
Eye Am Forever Yours
Forever For Always
Sunland Park $85,000 • 400 yards :19.665 • si 87
Corona Cartel
Big Daddy Cartel
Miss Racy Eyes
DADDYS BLUSHING, 15-g.
Blushing Bug
Sandy June Bug
Sandys Fame
RACING NEWS
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