Page 173 - August 2019

Zia Derby-RG2
NO MIRES A LA LUNA
by Michael Cusortelli
Translated from Spanish to English, No Mires A La Luna means “don’t look at the moon,” but No Mires A La Luna was on top of the moon following his neck victory in the $197,725 Zia Derby-RG2 at Ruidoso Downs on July 28.
No Mires A La Luna broke sharply from the 3-post and led at every call, making his 400-yard trip in :19.558, which was good for a 98 speed index. Raul Ramirez Jr. rode
the gelding for owners Byron
Woodard and David Valdez
and trainer Trey Ellis.
The fourth-fastest qualifier from five Zia Derby trials on July 13, No Mires A La Luna was coming off of a second-place finish, 1-length behind fastest qualifier Zee James, in the second heat. The gelding had an interest- ing two-year-old campaign in that he was winless in eight starts but earned $307,461.
Firecracker Derby-G3
SANTANDER
by John Moorehouse
Despite struggling in his rookie campaign, Santander’s connections remained hopeful he would improve as he matured. Those hopes
have become reality; the sophomore colt recorded his third straight win and his first-ever victory
in stakes company, capturing the $186,925 Firecracker Derby-G3 on July 3 at Delta Downs.
Owned by Jorge Haddad, the gelding has bounced back nicely with three wins in four starts this year.
“This is the type of horse that’s been getting a lot bet- ter,” Jorge Haddad, Jr. said. “As a two year old, he was
a little immature, but we’ve known the family and known the family likes to mature
a little later. We were just patient with him.”
The Haddads liked Santander’s chances going into his first stakes of 2019. After all, he won his trial and posted the second-fastest qualifying time.
Ruidoso Downs $197,725 • 400 yards :19.558 • si 98
First To Flash
First Moonflash
Nagano Moon
NO MIRES A LA LUNA, ‘16-g.
Genuine Strawfly
Dont Looke Ethel
Minnie Coup
After two losses at Sam Houston Race Park in the spring, No Mires A La Luna shipped
back to New Mexico, where he ran second in
a 350-yard Mountain Top Futurity-RG3 trial then ran third as the sixth-fastest qualifier in the $346,000 final. After qualifying to and finishing eighth in the $410,000 Zia Futurity-RG1, No Mires A La Luna’s connections tried him against
open company in the All American Futurity-G1 trials. The gelding not only made the $3-million final, but he ran third, 3/4-length behind win- ner Apocalyptical Jess, and he banked $255,000 for his effort.
Still, that first win eluded No Mires A La Luna until he won a 350-yard Ruidoso Maiden Stakes trial in his 3-year-old debut on May 10.
No Mires A La Luna has won two of 12 outs, and the $83,044 winner’s share of the
$197,725 purse from his first stakes victory pushed his earnings to $403,052.
Cat Daddys Lil Girl (Big Daddy Cartel- Girlonthego) ran second for her owners, cousins Jimmy Negrete and Jimmy Vasquez. Mauro Salcedo rode the homebred filly for trainer Cynthia Gonzalez. Enrique Barrera’s Woodys Copy Cat (Woodbridge-Fast Copy Miss) finished third. Manuel Gutierrez rode the filly for trainer Cynthia Gonzalez.
Chicks Baby Suds (Jess A Chicks-Hot Babe Indy Suds), DJs Winner (Winners Version-Salt
N Sea), Midnite Blu (First Moonflash-The
Blues Girl), Legend Of The Vine (Big Daddy Cartel-Tangled Vines), Zee James (Jesse James Jr-On A Bunny), Rallydownthealley (Big Daddy Cartel-Lucky Ladyaces) and Vintage Vaquera (Big Daddy Cartel-Kim Crawford) completed the order of finish.
the Adequan Derby Challenge at Retama Park, as well as the Dash For Cash Derby at Lone Star Park and the Evangeline Downs Derby.
Haddad also home-bred runner-up Anasttasia (The Louisiana Cartel-Las Alamitos), who is trained by Kenneth Roberts, Sr. and had John Hamilton in the irons.
Parti Wagon (PYC Paint Your Wagon- Sheisassheis) hit the board in third for owner Blaine Beene. The Nason Eschete trainee had Rolando Pina aboard.
Diamond G Bee (Majestic Cartel-Hermes For Me B), FM In A Zatanaz Too (Tempting Dash-Dashingfordestiny), Boldt (FDD Dynasty- Choty), Unstopable Moment (Separatist-Jetblack Gold Moment), Sallvatore (One Dashing Eagle- Las Alamitos) and Iam Pascual Cartel (The Louisiana Cartel-Chickie Kool) completed the field. Mia Jet In scratched.
Santander drew the 6-post in a nine- horse field for the derby, and Haddad’s prediction proved true. The colt was run- ning a close third at the first call, overtook his foes to lead by a head as he entered the stretch, then held off stablemate Anasttasia to win by a neck.
M. Heath Taylor trains Santander, who finished his 400-yard trip in :19.502 for a 97 speed index. Jockey Francisco Calderon did
the riding. The stakes win reaped a $93,462 payday that improved the colt’s lifetime earnings to $134,823.
Haddad bred Santander out of Sam Houston Distaff Challenge winner Im A Feature Girl. She has pro- duced 100% winners from three starters. Santander is her first stakes winner.
Santander will be looking for more before the year is through. He’s been paid into
Delta Downs $186,925 • 400 yards :19.502 • si 97
First Down Dash
FDD Dynasty
Dinastia Toll BRZ
SANTANDER, ‘16-c.
Feature Mr Jess
Im A Feature Girl
This Girl Is Special
SPEEDHORSE, August 2019 171
RACING NEWS
Coady Photography Ruidoso Downs