Page 154 - March 2020

NMHBA Stakes-RG2
FIRST NEON MOON
by John Moorehouse
First Neon Moon kicked off his sophomore cam- paign with a bang by winning the $100,000 NMHBA Stakes-RG2 at Sunland Park on Feb. 15. First Neon Moon broke on top from the
2-post and stayed in front at every remaining call of the 400-yard race.
The colt led by a head at the first call and when entering the stretch, then withstood a challenge by Jess Featured Girl to hit the wire first by a nose.
Martin Orona, Sr. trains First Neon
Moon, who finished his stakes-winning trip in :19.384, registering a 92 speed index while ben- efiting from a 14 mph tailwind. Raul Herrera drew the riding assignment.
Victor Lozano owns the three-year-old colt, who scored his first victory in stakes company and made his third trip to the winner’s circle in eight career outs.
The $60,000 payday more than doubled First Neon Moon’s lifetime bankroll to a new total of $107,560.
Running as a two year old, First Neon Moon made a couple of forays into stakes competition, competing in both the New Mexico Classic Futurity-RG2 and the Southwest Juvenile Invitational Championship-G2 at Zia Park.
The colt also made unsuc- cessful bids to qualify for the Zia Futurity and Mountain Top Futurity. Coming off a layoff
of about 10 weeks, oddsmakers tabbed the colt as a 14-1 under- dog, but he ended up a pleasant surprise for his connections.
Maegan Cavasos bred First
Neon Moon out of winner My
Soul Mate, who is a full sister
to First Blazin Love, winner
of the Jess Burner Memorial Handicap-RG1, Shue Fly Stakes-RG2 and New Mexico Classic Derby-RG2. My Soul Mate was a finalist in the Namehimastreaker New Mexico Classic Futurity-RG2, Shue Fly Stakes-RG2, Tommy “Duke” Smith Handicap-RG2 and Pelican Stakes-RG3. She has produced 100% money earners from two starters. First Neon Moon is her first stakes winner and top earner.
First Neon Moon’s second dam is lightly raced Love At First Glance. She has produced 12 winners from 16 starters, including Northwest Distaff Challenge Winner Love To Finish First.
Jess Featured Girl (TF Featured Effort-Jess Adoration) bobbled at the start, but recovered nicely to finish a close second for owner Sandra
Bean and trainer Danny Urista. Paul Garcia was in the irons. The filly was com-
ing off a fourth place finish in the Shue Fly Stakes-G3 earlier this year. She was also a finalist in the 2019 Spring Fling Futurity.
Six Pack Fame (Jesse James Jr-Sandys Fame) hit the board in third place for Diamond Racing Stables.
The Ramon Mendoza trainee had Sergio Becerra, Jr. in the irons. The gelding was coming off a fifth place finish in the Shue Fly Stakes-G3 in Jan. He also ran third in the Zia Quarter Horse Futurity-G1 and New Mexican Spring Futurity-G2 last year.
Stominado (First Moonflash-Diamonds
N Rainbows), Runner Chick (Chicks Regard- Eyesa Runner), Champagne Room (Big Daddy Cartel-Champagne Perry), Meleros Dash (Next Bandit TB-Lorraine of Terror), Don Chuy C (First Moonflash-Jess Say Bye Bye), Jess Tequila Talkin (Jesse James Jr-Wish You Had One To) and Finnley (Chicks Regard-A Scootin Princess) completed the order of finish. Outta Debt and Streaks Featured TF both scratched.
Sunland Park $100,000 • 400 yards :19.384 • si 92
First To Flash
First Moonflash
Nagano Moon
FIRST NEON MOON, ‘17-c.
Chicks A Blazin
My Soul Mate
Love At First Glance
152 SPEEDHORSE March 2020
First Neon Moon (#2) and Raul Herrera receive every call to win the $100,000 NMHBA Stakes-RG2 by a nose
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Coady Photography