Page 66 - NMHBA_FALL2021

RUIDOSO DOWNS
by Michael Cusortelli • Photos by Jake Rogerss
Zia Quarter Horse Futurity (RG1)
First Moonflash
First To Flash
Nagano Moon
Episode Of Fire
Walk Thru Fire
Last Episode
FLASHIN FIRE
Despite a slow start, Jose E. Guzman’s Flashin Fire earned his first career stakes victory in the August 1, $319,804 Zia Futurity (RG1) for New Mexico-bred two-year-old Quarter Horses at Ruidoso Downs.
Flashin Fire covered 400 yards in :20.008, and his margin of victory was a neck from Cowboy Zulu. Juan Pulido rode the son of First Moonflash for trainer Santos Carrizales Jr.
“We got started behind, so I made the decision right away to move to the outside,” said Pulido, who also rode Flashin Fire in the gelding’s Zia Futurity trial. “We were able to go around them, and then we finally caught (Cowboy Zulu) just in time.”
Flashin Fire recorded the fastest qualifying time with his wire-to-wire, half-length victory in the fifth of ten Zia Futurity trials on July 16.
The gelding was bred by Donna McPherson and Mike Abraham. His sire, First Moonflash, was a half-brother to graded stakes winners Dash Ta Moon and Moonifisant. Racing primarily
in New Mexico from 2007-09, First Moonflash won 10 graded stakes, including the 2008 and 2009 Championship at Sunland Park (G1).
First Moonflash has sired the earners of more than $21.4 million from nine crops, including AQHA Champions Flash And Roll, Handsome Jack Flash, and Foxy Moonflash, and Grade 1
winner Too Flash For You. The stallion died due to complications from laminitis in May 2019.
Flashin Fire is out of Episode Of Fire, a 13-year-old Walk Thru Fire mare and a final- ist in the 2010 All American Futurity (G1). His second dam, the multiple stakes winning Bold Episode mare Last Episode, foaled Heza Bold Man, a half-brother to Episode Of Fire who won two graded stakes from 1998-1999, including the 1999 Heritage Place Derby (G1) at Remington Park. Last Episode also produced A Special Episode, another half-sister to Episode Of Fire who foaled Grade 1 winner and 2002 Champion 2-Year-Old Gelding Eye Opening Episode.
Flashin Fire was claimed by Guzman for $20,000 at Remington Park on April 11. The gelding has won two of four starts, and the $134,318 winner’s share of the Zia Futurity purse pushed his earnings to $138,549.
Daddys Mony ran third, 3/4-length behind Flashin Fire, and was followed officially by Wine Dont Lie, Azara, Long Pour, Renika, Tickle
The Nickel, and Jess Ring The Bell. Fifth-fastest qualifier First Feature was scratched.
Runner-up Cowboy Zulu, the 10th-fastest qualifier, is a chestnut son of the First Down Dash stallion Zulu Dragon campaigned by Chuck Sonnenberg and Fred Danley. The
gelding has won two of four starts, and the $57,565 runner-up share of the Zia Futurity purse increased his bankroll to $67,285.
The third-fastest qualifier, Daddys Mony was coming off of a 2 1/2-length win in the 10th Zia Futurity trial, and the Big Daddy Cartel filly and half-sister to 2019 New Mexican Spring Futurity (RG2) winner Honky Tonk Daddy was purchased by owners Julie
A. Schoenhofer and Maricela Vasquez for $34,500 at last year’s New Mexico-Bred Sale. Daddys Mony has won one of four starts and has earned $45,387, and her record includes a second-place run, a neck behind winner Bad Kompany, in the June 20, $50,000 Mountain Top Juvenile Stakes (R) at Ruidoso Downs.
64 New Mexico Horse Breeder