Page 201 - August_2023

Zia 870 Championship
SONNY SURFER
Sby Michael Compton
onny Surfer, a battle-tested 5-year-old gelding,
surprised a field of eight in the Zia 870 Championship on July 23 at Ruidoso Downs, springing a 25-1 upset in the marathon to record his first career stakes victory.
Ridden by Jose Ortiz, Sonny Surfer broke out after the start and raced in fourth position early. He angled
to the rail and with a sustained inside bid, got up in the final strides to defeat Miss Tizy by a neck at the finish. In making just his second stakes appearance, Sonny Surfer stopped the timer in :46.258 for an 83 speed index.
Owned by Maria Ortiz and trained by David Hancock—who sent out the top four finishers in the race—Sonny Surfer now sports a record of 22-3- 3-0, and the $30,000 winner’s share of the purse increased his bankroll to $90,923. Bred in New Mexico by Dosi or Norma Alvarez, Sonny Surfer is produced from the Dome mare Domeinitchy TB.
Runner-up Miss Tizy (Mr Special Corona-Tizy
Fit), ridden by Noe Garcia Jr., raced in contention throughout and surged again in the lane after dropping back a bit around the turn. The brown mare, a three- time winner in her career, is owned by Julian Aguirre and was bred in New Mexico by Hermenegildo Aldavaz.
Dan The Flashman (First Moonflash- Domeinitchy TB) broke slowly and was pinched back at the start, but he rallied 7-wide around the turn and closed gamely to finish 3rd under Christian Ramos. The 8-year-old gelding, a 1/2-brother to the winner, is an 8-time winner and is owned by Jessica Orona and Dinorah Lopez. Dosi or Norma Alvarez bred the son of First Moonflash in New Mexico.
El Tres Menudos (Jesse James Jr-Tres Menudos), Freedom Flash (First Moonflash-Mi Camila TB), Regal Isabella (Reagal Eagle-Catch This Scooter), J
R Bordeaux (Jesse James Jr-Bridgette Bordeaux), and Cartel Drunk Playboy (Big Daddy Cartel-Key Deputy Driver) followed.
Zia Handicap-RG2
BIG CRUSH BB
Jby Michael Cusortelli
avier M. Chavez’s Big Crush BB extended his win
streak with a 1-length victory in the $50,000 Zia Handicap-RG2 at Ruidoso Downs on July 22.
Ridden by Emilio Tapia and sent to post as the 13-10 favorite in a full field of 10, Big Crush BB covered 400 yards in :19.435 while posting a 99 speed index. Jose DeHerrera trained the gray colt.
Big Crush BB was bred by Ralph M. Vincent
and Beverly Bourguet of Albuquerque, and he was coming off of a 1 1/4-length win in the 400-yard $45,000 Jess Burner Stakes for state-breds at Ruidoso Downs on June 4.
The colt is out of Eagles First Down, an unraced daughter of Champion One Famous Eagle.
Big Crush BB began his three-race win streak
with a 3/4-length victory in a division of the $100,000 Jimmy Drake Stakes-RG3 at SunRay Park on April
28. The colt has won six of 18 starts, and the $30,000 winner’s share of the Zia Handicap purse increased his bankroll to $202,460. The colt was a finalist in the 2021 New Mexico State Fair Futurity-RG3, and last year’s Mountain Top and New Mexico State Fair derbies.
Fly On Down (One Handsome Man-Never The Same) ran second and banked the $10,000 winner’s share of the purse for his owner Dalia F. Aranda. Alfredo Sigala rode the 5-year-old stallion for trainer Omar Vargas. Hubaldo Solis’ HS Paul Walker (Osbaldo-Strawberryberryfast) finished third. Hector Aldrete rode the homebred 7-year-old gelding for trainer Alfredo Gomez. Diezs Daylight (Jesse James Jr-Diez Tambien) finished fourth and was followed by Hunky McGoo (Big Daddy Cartel-Physical Touch), Jesses Dinero (First Moonflash-Chicks Chamisa), Blue Riband (Winners Version-Blues Lil Corona), Don Chuy C (First Moonflash-Jess Say Bye Bye), Forrest Effort (TF Featured Effort-Runaway Leonarda), and Mr Perry Moon (First Moonflash-Ms Perry Mason). Effortless Candy Cat was scratched
Jack Rhoden Bonus Challenge
BEE A FREIGHT TRAIN
Fby Kristen Moore
or his second stakes win of the 2023 season,
Bee A Freight Train dueled to finish first at the wire in the $24,500 Jack Rhoden Memorial Bonus Challenge on July 15 at Crooked River. Under jockey Cruz Contreras, the sorrel colt broke fourth from the 8-gate and immediately took the lead.
He picked up the lead from the outside after being bumped at the start. He had a head margin at the top of the stretch and finished a neck to the good.
Bee A Freight Train completed the 250 yards in :13.071 for a speed index of 105, close to the track record set by Warhock in 2022 of :12.811.
Owner Alberto Avila received a winner’s share of $11,760. Trained by Mario Portillo, Bee A Freight Train increased his bankroll to $74,794.
The three year old has won seven of his 12 career starts with three second place finishes. His most recent was in a gate to wire finish in the Gary and Sherilyn Blattner Memorial Derby on May 21 at Pocatello Downs. Bee A Freight Train has also won the 2022 Emerald Downs Juvenile Challenge and finished second in the Grants Pass Derby Challenge on July 2 and in the Crush The Curve Futurity Consolation in 2022. Bee A Freight Train was ranked #11 by wins in 2022.
The Utah colt was bred by Darian Burt and is out of winner and Sam Houston Distaff Challen ge finalist N Bee C, by Champion Apollitical Jess.
The Prize Ferarri (The Louisiana Cartel- Ferarri Fast Prize) and jockey Erick Garcia gave
a strong effort and pushed for the second place slot coming out of the stretch to finish in place by a head. The gelding is owned by RTM Stables, Kevin & Robin Dunn, and Bryon Goody. He is trained by Mark Hanson and won the Iron Horse Maturity at Weber Downs on May 27. The Prize Ferarri boasts total career earnings of $144,836.
Battling on the inside, Warhock (Zoomin For Bux-Copa Show Girl) and jockey Jamie Lopez held strong at second until finally losing his hold by a head coming across the wire. The gelding
is owned by Malon L. Cowgill and is trained by Benito Curiel and was the winner of the Jack Rhoden Memorial Bonus Challenge last July.
Completing the field were Fooses Flyer (Foose- Fly Thru Time), CM Boom Shakalaka (Carters Cartel-MI Fames A Dandy), Newport Guy (Kiddy Up-Wave Babe), Riddle (Zoomin For Bux-Go Go Getter) and Super Bowl Sunny Day (PYC Prize Time-Holland Last Star).
RACING NEWS
SPEEDHORSE August 2023 199
Bailey Ivey, Ruidoso Downs
Bailey Ivey, Ruidoso Downs
Crooked River Roundup • $24,500
250 yards • :13.071 • SI 105
PYC Paint Your Wagon
Dianetogetcha
BEE A FREIGHT TRAIN, ‘20-c.
Apollitical Jess
N Bee C
Freighttrain B
Full Moon Dasher
Ruidoso Downs • $50,000
870 yards • :46.258 • SI 83
Corona Cartel
Surfer
SONNY SURFER, ‘18-g.
Dome
Domeinitchy TB
Corona Surfer
Perfect Present
Ruidoso Downs • $50,000
400 yards • :19.435 • SI 99
Corona Cartel
Big Daddy Cartel
BIG CRUSH BB, ‘19-c.
Miss Racy Eyes
One Famous Eagle
Eagle First Down
Nonanon