Page 78 - NMHBA_FALL2021

RUIDOSO DOWNS
Zia QH Stakes (RG2)
by Michael Cusortelli • Photos by Jake Rogerss
First Moonflash
First To Flash
Nagano Moon
Dont Looke Ethel
Genuine Strawfly
Minnie Coup
NO MIRES A LA LUNA
Making his return to New Mexico after
a successful spring campaign at Remington Park in Oklahoma City, No Mires A La Luna scored an upset victory in the July 31, 400- yard Zia Stakes (G2) for New Mexico-breds at Ruidoso Downs.
No Mires A La Luna defeated Marcus Medallion by a half of a length in :19.563 while posting a 98 speed index. Lucas Constantin rode the homebred 5-year-old son of First Moonflash for owner Byron Woodard and trainer Marc Jungers.
No Mires A La Luna was sent to post at odds of 11-1 in the full field of 10, and he returned a $24.20 win mutuel. The geld-
ing’s sire, the First To Flash stallion First Moonflash, was the AQHA Champion Aged Stallion in 2009. Racing from 2007-2009, First Moonflash earned $969,828 from 25 outs and won 10 graded stakes.
A half-brother to graded stakes winners Dash Ta Moon and Moonifisant, 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. The stallion died in May 2019 from complications due to laminitis.
No Mires A La Luna’s dam, Dont Looke Ethel, is a winning 14-year-old daughter of 2002 All American Derby (G1) winner Genuine Strawfly. During the Remington Park meet,
the earned $12,034 from three outs and won a 350-yard, $21,200 allowance-optional claiming ($50,000) race on April 10.
All told, No Mires A La Luna has won five of 24 races, and the $24,000 winner’s share of the Zia Stakes purse increased his earnings to $484,065. The gelding has won three stakes, including the 2019 Zia Derby (RG2) at Ruidoso Downs and last year’s New Mexico Cup Championship (RG1) at Zia Park and he ran third in the 2018 All American Futurity (G1).
Effortless Candy Cat finished third and was followed by Flashing Moolah, 17-10 favorite Colby James, Amandas Flashy, Perrys Regard, Flash The Corona, Jess A Satin Flash, and Freedom Flash.
Runner-up Marcus Medallion banked
$8,000 for his owner, Jaime G. Aldavaz Sr. An 8-year-old son of the Mr Jess Perry stallion Jesse James Jr, the sorrel gelding has earned $337,403 from 31 starts, and his seven wins include a nose victory in the 2019 Zia Handicap (RG2).
Effortless Candy Cat pocketed the $4,000 third-place share of the purse for his owner, Sebastian Gonzales. The 4-year-old gray son of the Feature Mr Jess stallion TF Featured Effort has won two of 13 starts and has banked $58,501.
Black, Evacuee, West Dawn, and Next Affair. Thunder Dome is a 7-year-old Dome racing
for W.D. Carson Sr., M.H. Carson, and Leach Racing LLC. Thunder Dome has won 11 of 46 starts -- including six stakes -- and he has earned $690,780.
A 5-year-old son of Attila’s Storm, Storm Bayou races for Kent V. Kunz. The bay gelding has won six of 14 outs and has banked $83,733, and he was claimed for $20,000 at Turf Paradise on February 10.
Zia Land of Enchantment Stakes (R)
Monterey Jazz
Thunderello
Reefside
Rodinia
Bluegrass Cat
Fahamore
ANCIENT LAND
Kelsi Purcell rode Ancient Land to a wire- to-wire, 6 1/2-length victory in the July 31, $50,000 Land of Enchantment Stakes (R) at Ruidoso Downs.
Prepped by Casey Lambert for owners Martin Riley, David Carroll, C.W. Scott and J.D. Howard, Ancient Land went 7 1/2 fur- longs in 1:30.78. The 4-year-old Monterey Jazz gelding earned $30,000 from his third career stakes win.
Ancient Land was coming off of a one- length victory in a 7 1/2-furlong, $16,700 allowance prep for New Mexico-breds at Ruidoso Downs on June 26. He was bred by Dr. Patricia Davis, and he was $18,000 yearling purchase at the 2018 New Mexico-Bred Sale.
Ancient Land is one of 18 winners from 38 starters sired by Monterey Jazz, a 17-year-old son of the Montbrook stallion Thunderello. Campaigned from 2006 to 2012, Monterey Jazz earned $760,841 from 37 races, and his four graded stakes wins included the 2008 Strub Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park and 2009 American Handicap (G2) at Hollywood
Park. The stallion has sired the earners of more than $701,000 from six crops.
Ancient Land’s dam, the winning Bluegrass Cat mare Rodinia, has produced two winners from three starters. His third dam, the winning Easy Goer mare Cathy’s Gal, was a half-sister to Placerville, the winner of the 1993 Prince of Wales Stakes (G2) in England.
Ancient Land traces back to his fourth dam, Classy Cathy, a daughter of Private Account who won the 1986 Alabama Stakes (G1) at Saratoga and Ashland Stakes (G1) at Keeneland. A 1983 foal, Classy Cathy was a full sister to stakes winners Ms. Margi and Testy Trestle, and a half to two stakes winners, including four-time Grade 3 winner Sports View.
An earner of $221,066, Ancient Land has won six of 16 races, including four of seven at Ruidoso Downs. The gelding’s stakes resume includes a victory in the 2019 Steve Prather Stakes (R) at Zia Park.
Thunder Dome, the 9-5 favorite, ran second and was followed by Storm Bayou, Jet N G, Effort N Results, Charlie Comanch, Spinning
76 New Mexico Horse Breeder