Page 88 - January 20 2012

Shue Fly Stakes-RG2
FiRST BlAzin love
by Tracy Gantz
lisa Saumell has worked for Champion trainer Paul Jones for 22 years, the last 11 in New Mexico. There she handles about 80
head of the California-based conditioner’s vast stable, including one of her own, First Blazin Love. Saumell owns the colt in partnership with Dwayne Johnson of Knox City, Texas, and Johnny Martinez, who lives near Santa Fe, New Mexico, and all three were thrilled to see First Blazin Love spank his rivals in winning the $286,364 Shue Fly Stakes-RG2.
Though Jones is the trainer of First Blazin Love, Saumell picked him out as a yearling and is the one with him daily in New Mexico.
“He was in the New Mexico sale, and we liked him,” said Saumell. “We got him for $15,000, and Dwayne and Johnny asked if they could go in on him. They really enjoy racing. The game is fun when you have great partners like them. We have a couple of two- year-olds with them as well.”
If the impressive manner in which he han- dled the talented field in the Shue Fly is any indication, First Blazin Love could be a serious contender in major Derby competition during 2012. PK Bay got the jump out of the gates and Call Me A Blazn Chic, the favorite and the fastest qualifier in the trials, was also out quick in the 400-yard Shue Fly. First Blazin
Love went right with Call Me A Blazn Chic. The pair matched strides down the stretch, with First Blazin Love putting her away and then holding off closers for a half-length win in :19.155.
G.R. Carter Jr. rode First Blazin Love, and the two are undefeated together. Carter first piloted the colt in the June 3 trial for the Mountaintop Futurity at Ruidoso.
“He won and was the 13th- fastest,” said Saumell, “but they didn’t have a consolation race.”
Wheeled back the next month in a trial for the Zia Futurity-RG1, First Blazin Love and Carter won by two lengths.
“He was the second-fastest qualifier despite being out in front like that with no one pushing him,” Saumell said.
First Blazin Love came out
of the trial with bucked shins,
leading Saumell to skip the
final and give the colt three
months off. In his return, a Nov. 20 allowance race at Zia Park, First Blazin Love raced for the first time without Carter in the saddle and finished sixth. “We were trying to get a prep into him, and he hopped in the gate out of the
one hole,” said Saumell.
Carter was back aboard for the Dec. 16
Shue Fly trial, and First Blazin Love scored by an easy 1 3/4 lengths to be the ninth-fastest qualifier. Saumell was unconcerned that the colt was not in the first flight of qualifiers.
“We’ve won many futurities without being the fastest qualifier,” she said.
Saumell may enter First Blazin Love in one more Sunland stakes before pointing to the Zia Derby at Ruidoso.
“This is a really good- looking horse with a great personality,” she said. “He’s a big ol’ puppy dog, despite still being a colt, and he’s a very sound horse.”
Mike Abraham bred First Blazin Love in New Mexico from Love At First Glance, who placed in two of her five starts. The mare’s
six winners from seven starters include 2007 Northwest Distaff Challenge winner Love To Finish First, stakes-placed Jess Braggin, and My Soul Mate. A full sister to First Blazin Love, My Soul Mate also qualified for the Shue Fly, finishing seventh.
Fury Of The Storm (Furyofthewind- Bubbles Bunny) finished second for jockey Jesse Levario after winning his Shue Fly
trial. Trained by Roberto Sanchez for own- ers S/M Cattle Export Company and Jaime Dominguez, the colt broke his maiden at Zia Park in September and has finished second in two other races.
Alejandro Medelin rode PK Bay (Brookstone Bay-PK Rainbow) to third for trainer Fred Danley and owners David Barrett and J & SM Inc., overcoming a slight stumble at the start. In 11 previous races, all in New Mexico, PK Bay won the Gwendolyn Eaves Overnight Stakes and finished second in the New Mexico Spring Futurity-RG2 and New Mexico Classic Cup Futurity-RG2.
Completing the field were Call Me A Blazn Chic (Chicks A Blazin-Willie Call Me), Chick Town (Chicks A Blazin-Snappin On), Wind Knocker (Furyofthewind-Knockout Queenie), My Soul Mate (Chicks A Blazin-Love At First Glance), My Big Chief (Get Down Perry- Majorly Easy), and Takin Back (Takin On Spoon Man-Baksheesh). Sammy James was scratched.
Sunland Park $286,364 • 400 yards :19.155 • si 92
Chicks Beduino
Chicks A Blazin
Forthe Loveofhoney
FIRST BLAZIN LOVE, c.
First Down Dash
Love At First Glance
Natovas Dasher
First Blazin Love and jockey G.R. Carter, Jr., won the Shue Fly Stakes-RG2 by a half-length on Jan. 7 at Sunland Park.
86 SPEEDHORSE, January 20, 2012
Racing news
Tommie Morelos/Coady Photography