Page 94 - NMHBA_Winter2022

DOWNS AT ALBUQUERQUE
New Mexico State Fair QH Derby (R)
Photos by Coady Photography
Chicks Regard
Chicks Regard
First Regard
Riverside Flash
First Moonflash
Riverside Eye Opener
RIVER FLASH
River Flash was a prompt odds-on favorite in the September 25, $287,844 New Mexico State Fair Derby (R) for state-bred 3-year-old Quarter Horses at Albuquerque Downs.
Racing for Robert M. Driggers and Ben Lee Ivey against a reported 15-mph head wind, River Flash covered 400 yards in :19.432, and his margin of victory was a neck from JC New Dawn. Adrian Ramos rode the gray son of Chicks Regard for trainer Wes Giles.
River Flash was the fastest qualifier off of his two-length win in the third of five New Mexico State Fair Derby trials on September 10. The gelding was bred by Ivey Cattle Co. His sire, Chicks Regard, is a 23-year-old stakes-winning son of the Beduino (TB) stallion Chicks Beduino. Racing in California and New Mexico from 2001-03, the Mexico-bred stallion earned $52,783 from 13 starts, and he was a finalist in the 2001 Sunland Park Fall Futurity (G2).
From 15 crops, Chicks Regard has sired the earners of more than $8.4 million, including graded stakes winners Regard With Respect, You N How Many More and A Streak Regard. The stallion is owned by K. Humberto Lopez Gaxiola, and he stands for a $2,800 fee at Robert and Del Rae Driggers’ Bar Y Equine at Berino, New Mexico.
River Flash’s dam, the homebred winning First Moonflash mare Riverside Flash, was a
finalist in the 2017 Zia (RG1), New Mexico Cup (RG2), and New Mexico State Fair (RG3) futurities. His second dam, the homebred winning Mr Eye Opener mare Riverside Eye Opener, ran second in the 2004 La Mariposa Handicap (G3) at Albuquerque Downs.
River Flash’s victory in the New Mexico State Fair Derby extended his win streak to seven races. Campaigned exclusively in New Mexico, the gelding has won nine of 13 starts
-- including four of four at Albuquerque Downs and seven of 10 at the 400-yard distance -- and the $143,922 winner’s share of the purse from his fifth career stakes victory increased his bankroll to $407,827, of which $373,107 has been pocketed from 10 races this season.
iver Flash’s win streak features four stakes victories, including the April 24, $100,000 New Mexico Breeders’ Stakes (RG3) at SunRay Park, and the August 6, $174,000 Zia Derby (RG2) at Ruidoso Downs.
River Flash was sent to post as the 1-2 favorite in the full field of 10, and he returned a $3 win mutuel. Runner-up JC New Dawn, a 9-1 longshot, completed a $2 exacta dividend of $16.
BF Shes Outrageous finished third, 1 1/2 lengths behind River Flash. Cowboy Zulu, Big Crush BB, HS Golden Eagle, LMG First Call, Papi Grande Cartel, Holland Rock and Miriam La Rebelde completed the order of finish.
JC New Dawn is a son of the Dash Ta Fame stallion Woodbridge racing for Telma Meraz and Federico Gonzalez. The chestnut gelding has won three of 11 outs, and the $57,569 second-place share of the New Mexico State Fair Derby purse pushed his earnings to $159,907,
of which $119,381 has been banked from seven starts this season.
A homebred daughter of the Corona Cartel stallion Big Daddy Cartel owned by Kevin Burrell, BF Shes Outrageous pocketed the $34,541 third-place share of the New Mexico State Fair Derby purse. The gray filly has
earned $120,219 from 13 starts, and her four wins include a 1 1/4-length victory in last year’s 300-yard, $60,610 Desert Classic Futurity (R) at Turf Paradise.
River Flash’s winning connections include owners Robert Driggers and Benn Lee Ivey, trainer Wes Giles and jockey Adrian Ramos.
92 New Mexico Horse Breeder