Page 38 - NMHBA Spring 2021

With live racing on a temporary hiatus race meet on January 8. Through February 22, in another Triple Crown prep, the 1 1/8-
in New Mexico since December 24,
horses and horsemen based in the state have made an impact in other
southwestern circuits.
For example, trainer Todd Fincher was
granted 24 stalls at Sam Houston Race Park in Texas, which opened its 2021 Thoroughbred
Fincher prepped the winners of five races from 24 starters, and his runners earned $110,766 in purse money.
The 46-day Sam Houston Race Park Thoroughbred race meet runs through April 3 and will be followed by a 23-day Quarter Horse season from April 23-June 12.
Fincher’s horses include Senor Buscador, a homebred 3-year-old son of Mineshaft with Triple Crown aspirations. Owned by Joe R. Peacock Jr., Senor Buscador is out of Rose’s Desert, a daughter of Desert God who won seven New Mexico-bred stakes from 2011- 13, and he is a half-brother to 2018 Sunland Derby (G3) winner Runaway Ghost.
Senor Buscador won his first two starts at Remington Park in Oklahoma City, including the 1-mile, $200,000 Springboard Mile Stakes on December 18, a race which offered Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying points.
Most recently, the late-running colt ran fifth
mile $400,000 Risen Star Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds Racecourse in New Orleans.
At press time, Senor Buscador was being pointed to Triple Crown preps in Arkansas and California.
Fincher also started Dale F. Taylor Racing LLC’s She’s My Gem, a Kentucky-bred 5-year- old Into Mischief mare, in the 5 1/2-furlong $75,000 Mardi Gras Stakes on the turf at Fair Grounds. A $180,000 purchase by Taylor at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, She’s My Gem finished third in the Mardi Gras.
New Mexico-based horsemen have also been making their presences felt in Arizona. At Turf Paradise in Phoenix, which opened its 2021 meet on January 4, Justin Evans tops the Thoroughbred trainer standings. Through February 22, Evans has won at a 33-percent clip with 32 of his 96 starters, and his runners have banked $389,777 in purse money.
Through February 22, Todd Fincher prepped the winners of five races from 24 starters, and his runners earned $110,766 in purse money at Sam Houston Race Park in Texas.
ON THE
ROAD
New Mexico-based horses and horsemen have enjoyed success in other states
by Michael Cusortelli
36 New Mexico Horse Breeder