Page 171 - Speedhorse November 2019

New Mexico Classic Derby-RG2
FREEDOM FLASH
by Danny Camp
Perseverance and hard work is what Freedom Flash showed in the $196,015 New Mexico Classic Derby-RG2 on Oct. 27.
Freedom Flash ran second in his Oct. 6 trial
heat and clocked the fifth fastest time. But in the finals of the New Mexico Class Derby, his class showed.
Freedom Flash broke mid-pack under Alonso Rivera, slipped a couple of spots at first call, but the team hustled in the stretch to cross the wire a neck in front.
Owned by Pierre & Leslie Amestoy and trained by James Padgett II, the gelding completed the 440 yards in :21.719 to earn a 96 speed index. Freedom Flash took the first place check worth $94,087, boosting his total lifetime bankroll to $155,957.
P. & L. Amestoy and R. Beasley
bred Freedom Flash out of the winning Thoroughbred mare Mi Camila. She has pro- duced 100% winners from six starters, includ- ing top earner Bonndaddy’s, winner of the Mt. Cristo Rey Handicap, Casey Darnell Pony
Express Stakes and Don Juan De Onate Stakes. Freedom Flash is her first Quarter Horse stakes winner and her third stakes winner overall.
“Freedom Flash is a fun
horse,” said Padgett. “He’s
just fun to be around. He’s
a great big horse so when he
plays, he plays big. We knew
if we had a lane to run, we
had a real good chance. We
were right, he loves 440 and
we think he will love a longer distance even better. He is good to gallop and perfect in the gates. He is coming off a little vacation, so we are going to Sunland and see what we can get done there. He is a blessing to us.”
Freedom Flash now has a race record of 3(1)-1(1)-1 from 10 starts, with a close third in the $189,405 New Mexico State Fair Derby in September. He was also a finalist this
year in the $85,000 NMHBA Stakes-RG2
and $211,142 Shue Fly Stakes-RG3.
Jessa Whistlin Dixie (First Moonflash-Jess A Cartel)
came into the finals with the 7th fastest time. The filly finished 2nd under Alan Hernandez for owner Bobby Simmons & trainer Clinton Crawford. Second fastest quali- fier, Tooflashyforyou (First Moonflash-Holland Fire), took 3rd place money. She is owned
by Sissie & Bob McClure. The Harvey Baeza trainee had Hector Aldrete in the irons. Followed by Woodys Copy Cat (Woodbridge-Fast Copy Miss), June Bug Daddy (Big Daddy Cartel-Sandy June Bug), CD Mamas Boy (First Moonflash- Mama Rosa B), CD Flash And Fame (First Moonflash-Famous Phoebe), Fabs Reflection (Big Daddy Cartel-Fabulous Form), Hezajessforsure (Jesse James Jr-Shez Classy Now) & Quemados Royal Moon (First Moonflash-A Royal Lead).
Zia Park $196,015 • 440 yards :21.719 • si 96
First To Flash
First Moonflash
Nagano Moon
FREEDOM FLASH, ‘16-g.
Southern Halo
Mi Camila TB
Lady Of Tralee
Freedom Flash and Alonso Rivera win the $196,015 New Mexico Classic Derby-RG2.
SPEEDHORSE, November 2019 169
RACING NEWS
Coady Photography