Page 179 - June_2023

Jimmy Drake Stakes Division 1-RG3
BIG CRUSH BB
by Michael Cusortelli
Javier M. Chavez’s Big Crush BB won the first division of the $100,000 Jimmy Drake Stakes-RG3 for New Mexico-breds at SunRay Park on April 28.
Sent to post at odds of 14-1 and aided by a reported 11-mph tail wind, Big Crush BB covered 400 yards in :19.370, and his margin of victory was 3/4-length from 10-1 longshot Hunky McGoo. Emilio Tapia rode the 4-year-old Big Daddy Cartel colt for trainer Jose Ignacio DeHerrera.
Big Crush BB recorded
a 107 speed index from his first lifetime stakes score. The gray colt was bred by Ralph Vincent and Beverly Bourguet of Albuquerque, and he was making his first start since Feb. 3 when he finished 10th after a troubled start in a 400-yard $43,300 allowance race for New Mexico-breds at Sunland Park.
Big Crush BB is out of unraced Eagles First Down.
Jimmy Drake Stakes Division 2-RG3
FLY ON DOWN
by Michael Cusortelli
Fly On Down, a 5-year-old son of the One Famous Eagle stallion One Handsome Man racing for Dalia F. Aranda, held on at the wire
to win the second division of the $100,000 Jimmy Drake Stakes-RG3 for New Mexico- breds at SunRay Park on April 28.
Aided by an 11-mph tail wind, Fly On Down went 400 yards in :19.254 while posting a 110 speed index, and his margin of victory was a short nose from No Mires A La Luna, who crossed the wire
in :19.258. Alfredo Sigala rode the gray horse for trainer Omar Vargas.
Fly On Down was stretching out in distance off of his fourth-place run, 3/4-length behind winner Diezs Daylight, in the 350-yard Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap-RG2 at Sunland Park on Feb. 11.
All told, the horse has won six of 23 starts, including five of 13 at the 400-yard trip, and
The colt traces back to his third dam, Folsanon, a winning Fol’s Native TB mare and a finalist in the 1989 Shebester-G2 and Oklahoma-G3 futurities at Blue Ribbon Downs.
Big Crush BB was making his first lifetime start at SunRay Park. Campaigned in two stakes, including California, he has won four of 16 races, and the $60,000 winner’s share
of the $100,000 purse pushed his bankroll to $145,460. The colt’s resume includes a third- place run, 2-lengths behind
winner HS Golden Eagle, in the 2021 New Mexico State Fair Futurity-RG3 for state- bred juveniles at Albuquerque Downs. He was also a finalist in last year’s $288,000 New Mexico State Fair Derby at Albuquerque Downs and in the $163,000 Mountain Top Derby at Ruidoso Downs.
Hunky McGoo (Big Daddy Cartel-Physical Touch) pocketed the $20,000 runner-up share
of the purse for his owners William R. Robertson and Mary Robertson. Christian Ramos rode the homebred 4-year-old gray gelding for trainer Marc Jungers. Dean Miracles Vike (Dashing Vike-A Dean Miracle RF) ran third, a nose behind Hunky McGoo, and earned $10,000 for his owner Kristi Rose Martinez. Alfredo Sigala rode the 4-year-old black gelding for trainer Omar Vargas.
HS Paul Walker (Osbaldo- Strawberryberryfast), the 3-2 favorite in the full field of 10, finished fourth, and was followed by Winners Miracle (Hearts Miracle-Magic
Of Winning), Papi Grande Cartel (Big Daddy Cartel-Posies Woodette), EZ On My Mind (Genuine Strawfly-Shirleys Honor), Jess Ring The Bell (Jess A Chicks-First Tinkerbell), Tuco Salamanca (TF Featured Effort-The Rainbow Rea), and Mr Perry Moon (First Moonflash-Ms Perry Mason).
the $60,000 winner’s share of the Jimmy Drake Stakes purse bumped his earnings to $255,125. Fly On Down’s two stakes victories include last year’s 400-yard $30,000 Jess Burner Stakes for New Mexico-breds at Ruidoso Downs.
Fly On Down was bred by Nan and Terry Lane, and he was purchased as a yearling by Aranda for $7,000 at the 2019 New Mexico- Bred Sale at Ruidoso Downs. The horse is out of Never The Same, a daughter of the Special
Effort stallion Strawfly Special. Fly On Down’s second dam, the winning Royal Quick Dash mare Just A Dance, produced three stakes- placed runners, all of whom were half siblings to Never The Same, including Dance Baby, a Shazoom filly who ran third in Champion Alice K White’s 2009 La Primera del Ano Derby-G2 at Los Alamitos.
Runner-up by a nose was No Mires A La Luna (First
Moonflash-Dont Looke Ethel), who banked $20,000 for his owner Byron Woodard. Noe Garcia Jr. rode the homebred 7-year-old gelding for conditioner Ebert Munoz.
River Flash (Chicks Regard-Riverside Flash) earned $10,000 to bring his bankroll to $417,827 from 14 races for his owners Robert M. Driggers and Ben Lee Ivey. Adrian Ramos rode the multiple graded stakes winning 4-year-old gelding for trainer Wes Giles.
The Calling (Big Daddy Cartel-Fine Wines), Romeos Ransom (Saturday Nite Romeo- Charmed Damsel), Brookes Legacy (Big Daddy Cartel-Apollitical Brooke), Cartel Drunk Playboy (Big Daddy Cartel-Key Deputy Driver), J R Bordeaux (Jesse James Jr-Bridgette Bordeaux), Blue Riband (Winners Version-Blues Lil Corona), and Mountain Vike (Dashing Vike-Up On The Mountain) completed the order of finish.
RACING NEWS
SPEEDHORSE June 2023 177
Coady Photography Coady Photography
SunRay Park
$100,000 • 400 yards :19.370 • SI 107
Corona Cartel
Big Daddy Cartel
Miss Racy Eyes
BIG CRUSH BB, ‘19-s.
One Famous Eagle
Eagles First Down
Nonanon
SunRay Park
$100,000 • 400 yards :19.254 • SI 110
One Famous Eagle
One Handsome Man
Helens First Choice
FLY ON DOWN, ‘18-s.
Strawfly Special
Never The Same
Justa Dance