Page 17 - 2019 Stallion Register

Moving from New Mexico, First Moonflash made a brief trip to Remington Park in Oklahoma for the Remington Park Invitational Championship-G1. He had a 104-degree temperature at the time and finished fourth. He was given nearly five months off after that, then it was back to his home state for another win, this time by 3 1/4-lengths in the New Mexico Breeders’ Championship-RG2 and a 440-yard New Track Record. First Moonflash followed this with three more stakes wins to wind up his racing career, winning the New Mexico Classic Cup Championship-RG1, and for the second time each, winning the Jess Burner Memorial Handicap-RG1 and The Championship at Sunland Park-G1. In this, his final race, First Moonflash bobbled early and was bumped, but he finished all out and was up at the wire for a nose victory.
It was a fitting end to a stellar career, and
he was named the 2009 Champion Aged Stallion. “He’s just an amazing individual,” Leslie Amestoy said after his final race. “He has flawless conformation, a big foot and a huge knee. All you have to do is to look at him to see why he’s been able to accomplish all he has. He has a perfect mind and an excellent personality. And, he’s retiring completely sound. He’s going to throw all of this to his babies.”
First Moonflash remains the only stallion in AQHA history to win 10 graded stakes races and set four New World Records. He battled the fiercest competitors along the way – the greatest of the day – and defeated them in fine fashion, including World Champion Stolis Winner and Champions Gotta Get, Illegal Memories, Ketel Won, Little Bit Of Baja, Noconi and Rylees Boy.
First Moonflash is by 2002 Champion First To Flash, whose untimely death in 2004 could have been the end of his line. But, First
Moonflash has ensured it will carry on. Out of stakes placed Nagano Moon, an All-Time Leading Dam of ROM, First Moonflash is from a family of fine heritage and he has contributed immensely because of his racing and siring ability.
First Moonflash parlayed his success on the track to superiority as a sire. His foals
are favored and sought after. He was the #3 leading freshman sire of over $2.4 million when his first crop hit the track in 2013, and he has sired nearly or more than $2 million every year since. As of press time, First Moonflash is the #3 leading sire of 2018 at nearly $3.3 million and the sire of nearly $14 million in total. He is the sire of two race Champion in 2-time Champion Handsome Jack Flash, his top earner at $1,517,491, and Champion Foxy Moonflash. And, he is also
a nationally proven sire of Champions in the barrel arena.
In the sale barn, his yearlings have consistently been among the leaders. His first yearlings of 2012 saw prices up to $43,000. The next year in 2013, they reached a high of $60,000; $100,000 in 2014 and 2015; and in 2017 they topped out at $210,000. And in 2018, he sired the top seller at the Ruidoso New Mexico Bred Yearling Sale. Clearly, this is a trend that will continue.
First Moonflash, at just 14 years of age, has seen his share of peaks and valleys, but mostly
he has seen years filled with excitement and
great achievement. He has reached a graceful
age and is now in the prime of his life. He has earned respect and he has earned his place as a leading sire of our time. Seldom has one horse so magnificently and completely symbolized success in our industry as has First Moonflash.
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