Page 141 - November 2017

New Mexico Cup Futurity-RG2
A PASSION FOR FLASHN
by Michael Cusortelli
APassion For Flashn, owned by Rogelio Carrasco’s RC Racing LLC of Denver City, Texas, was a prompt 2-1 favorite in the $306,841 New Mexico Cup Futurity-RG2 at Zia Park on Oct. 29.
Ridden by Manuel Gutierrez for trainer Martin Orona Sr., A Passion For Flashn went 400 yards in :19.848 while facing a reported 10-mph head wind, crossing the wire a neck
in front. The $147,284 winner’s share from
the richest one of the 12 Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred stakes on New Mexico Cup Day, pushed the colt’s bankroll to $200,776.
A Passion For Flashn set the fastest qualify- ing time when he won the second of seven trials by 1-length on Oct. 14.
He was bred by JMH Racing LLC and is the first starter out of 2-time winner Subtly Sixy. The colt began his career on March 17 in the New Mexican Spring Futurity-RG2 trial. Shipping to Ruidoso Downs for the summer and stretching out in distance to 350 yards, he broke his maiden with a 1-length victory in a Mountain Top Futurity-RG3 trial.
A Passion For Flashn ran fourth, 1 1/4-lengths behind winner Daddys Blushing, in the $392,554 Mountain Top Futurity final on June 17. However, in his next start he won a 400-yard Zia
Futurity-RG1 trial by a domi- nating 3 1/4-lengths and set the fastest qualifying time.
Raced exclusively in New Mexico, A Passion For Flashn has won four of nine races, including a second place fin- ish to eventual All American Futurity-G1 winner Fly Baby Fly in a 440-yard trial on Aug. 19. A Passion For Flashn was subsequently disqualified and placed fifth for bearing in.
Carrasco acquired A Passion For Flashn as a yearling for $6,500 at last year’s New Mexico-Bred Sale at Ruidoso Downs.
“What caught my eye is that he is a First Moonflash colt, and everyone in the game knows how successful First Moonflash has been as a sire,” Carrasco said. “He ran a little green in his first race, but he’s really a calm horse. You wouldn’t even know he’s a colt. He’s relaxed and calm all the time, but when he goes out to the track he knows it’s time to do business.”
Carrasco indicated that the colt could make his next start in the 440-yard $200,000 Southwest Juvenile Championship-G1 at Zia Park on Dec. 3.
“We’ve also looked
at the Sunland Juvenile Championship (on Dec. 31), and he is paid into the Shue Fly Stakes,” Carrasco added. “He’s also paid into next year’s Zia Derby and All American Derby, so we have a lot of options for him.”
He Be Flashy (First Moonflash-Seven Coronas) finished second for owners Jack Manning, Beth Cobb
& Diane Norwood. G.R. Carter Jr. was up for trainer John M. Cooper.
Hollywoodcrown (Heza Motor Scooter- Hollywood Gone) ran third under Alfredo Sigala for owner/trainer Fred Danley.
Siximoons (First Moonflash-Stevie
Six), Big Blue Cartel (Big Daddy Cartel- Wannalikablue), Jesse Klee (Jesse James Jr-Ms Klee) finished 6th in a dead-heat with Daddys Copy (Big Daddy Cartel-Fast Copy Miss) who was followed by The Flash Force (First Moonflash-Blazin Force), PCJ Thats It (Jesse James Jr-Major Kia) & Riverside Flash (First Moonflash-Riverside Eye Opener). Daddys Leader & Regard The Rose scratched.
Zia Park $306,841 • 400 yards :19.848 • si 87
First To Flash
First Moonflash
Nagano Moon
A PASSION FOR FLASHN, ’15-c.
Streakin Sixes
Subtly Sixy
Subtly Aggressive
A Passion For Flashn & Manuel Gutierrez win the $306,841 New Mexico Classic Futurity-RG2
SPEEDHORSE, November 2017 139
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Coady Photography