Page 176 - August_2023

RACING NEWS
Dark NME ’s winning connections include owners Willie and Nancy Garcia of TYKHE Racing LLC, trainer Santos Carrizales Jr. and jockey Francisco Calderon.
day before Carrizales saddled Sicario V to win the Rainbow Derby-G1.
Dark NME began her racing career by
winning her trial and final of the Remington Park Oklahoma-Bred Futurity-RG1, the trial by 2-lengths and the final by 2 1/2-lengths. At Ruidoso, she
aced her trial for the Ruidoso Futurity-G1 by 1 3/4-lengths, but just missed qualifying.
“We didn’t lose the race—we lost to the mountain in the Ruidoso Futurity,” Garcia said. “We got left out by .002 into the finals. We qualified for the consolation, and we didn’t
run in it. It was the last trial of the day, and there was about a 14 mile-per-hour headwind.” Garcia is understandably looking forward to
the All American Futurity-G1.
“I’ve qualified for the All American three
times,” he said. “The best I’ve ever run in it is fourth, I believe. She’s getting better and better every race. The best part is she’s very sound.”
Though the second word of Dark NME’s name is pronounced “enemy,” that’s not the genesis of her name. Willie uses it to pay tribute to his wife.
“I’ve got about 30 babies that we’ve had born over the last two years,” he said. “All of them are NME, my wife’s initials before we got married: Nancy Miriam Escamilla.”
L Hendrix Horses LLC bred the filly in Oklahoma. Jordan Wiggins consigned her to the 2022 Heritage Place Yearling Sale under the name of Ms Dillard for the breeder.
“We’re just blessed she found us at the sale,” said Willie. “I was in Europe, and Romeo Mireles, who’s our race manager, called me. We had picked out eight or 10 in
Owner Willie Garcia with jockey Francisco Calderon and
racing manager Romeo Mireles. Jockey Francisco Calderon celebrates his Grade 1 victory.
174 SPEEDHORSE August 2023
John Bachelor IV, Speedhorse
John Bachelor IV, Speedhorse