Page 232 - December_2023

RACING NEWS
Mexican Breeders Derby Challenge
AZAL STORM
by Luis Prieto Zamudio, translated by Speedhorse
The Mexican Breeders Derby Challenge, reserved for three-year-old Mexican-bred yearlings, took place on Sept. 3, among nine
of the ten finalists who qualified two weeks earlier. SE Carver Cruzan, of the Cuadra Santa Elena, was scratched.
Between them they competed for a total prize of $1,111,120 pesos ($64,054 U.S. approx.) over a distance of 350 yards on a muddy surface due to the rain that fell minutes before the race.
This storm of nature was followed by
that of Azal Storm, a bay filly who perfectly dominated the muddy track, starting from the 1-post under the guidance of the young rider Carlos De Jesús Baltazar, who replaced Heriberto Camacho Sotelo in the saddle, who qualified her with the best time of :17.494.
A few yards after the break, they took the lead and they kept gaining more advantage
as they advanced on the route to win by 1 3/4-lengths over the favorite Mr Juan, who started from the 2-post. Her race time was :17.18
with an speed index of 91. For Carlos De Jesús Baltazar, whose family has excelled in the world of Quarter Horse racing, it was his first stakes and the satisfaction he felt for this achievement was notable.
The filly won her fourth
race in 8 starts, this being her
first stakes, leaving her record at
4-2-1 in 8 starts with earnings
that already exceed 1.5 million
pesos. In her first season, she placed second in Mexico Futurity behind her half-sister Carlita Jess.
The award ceremony was held in a markedly humid environment, which was compensated by the joy and excitement of the Azal Storm team and supporters. Javier Rosique León, President of the Mexican Association
of Breeders and Horsemen of Quarter Horses, accompanied by Dr. Anselmo Aguilar Payán, Treasurer of the organization itself, presented
the trophies and recognitions to Rancho San Pedro PZH, which was well represented by its owner Pedro Zamora Hernández, trainer Carlos Villanueva Campos, Carlos De Jesús Baltazar, the veterinarian Raúl Vázquez and other members of the Azal Storm team and fans.
The filly was bred by Luis Arturo Vázquez Solórzano,
owner of the stallion Red Storm Cat by Mr Jess Perry, and the sire of stakes winners in the United States and Mexico, and the veteran mare Azalways Cajun, by Cajun Luck, who is now 18 years old.
Azal Storm was presented at the 2021 Select Yearling Auction, where she was sold for $170,000 pesos ($8,418 U.S. approx.) to her current owner.
Mr Juan (Danny Cartel-Toles) was second under the leadership of Yair Daniel Báez Soto
230 SPEEDHORSE December 2023
On a very muddy track, Azal Storm and Carlos de Jesus Baltazar win their first stakes race.
Hipodromo de las Americas
$64,054 • 350 yards :17.18 • SI 91
Mr Jess Perry
Red Storm Cat
Tiny Dash Of Cash
AZAL STORM, ‘20-f.
Cajun Luck
Azalways Cajun
Azalways
Miguel A. Espinoza, Hipodromo de las Americas