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RACING NEWS
New Mexico State Fair Derby
DONELLI
by Michael Compton
Donelli is fond of the racing strip at The Downs at Albuquerque. While the speedy gray filly is also partial to posing for pictures
in winner’s circle, she remained undefeated
at Albuquerque with her fourth win from as many tries at the track with a dominating win in the $244,515 New Mexico State Fair Derby on Sept. 20.
Winner of last year’s New Mexico State Fair Futurity-RG3, Donelli
broke sharply in the 400-
yard test under regular
rider Alan Hernandez.
The formidable duo shook loose by 1-length early and were never headed. They
led every step of the way
to score by 3/4-length in
the end. Trained by Wesley Giles, Donelli was winning for the 7th time in 11 tries and covered the distance in :19.573 for a 92 speed index.
La Fiesta Derby
A New Mexico homebred for MJ
Farms, Donelli has never finished off the board in her career and is now a 2-time graded stakes winner. The $122,257 win- ner’s share of the purse increased her lifetime bankroll to $402,501. In addition to her
pair of stakes victories, Donelli also finished third in the Zia Derby-RG2 at Ruidoso Downs over the summer and was second in
the Shue Fly Stakes-RG2 at Sunland Park in just her second start of the 2020 campaign back in January.
MJ Farms bred Donelli out of winner Tres Of Alice. She has produced five win- ners from six starters. Donelli is her first stakes winner.
While the outcome was never in doubt, the race for second resulted in a dead heat between Dark Moon and Don Chuy C.
Dark Moon (First Moonflash-Special Dark Ivory), piloted by Francisco Calderon, chased the leader from second throughout. The filly races for Cavenaugh Quarter Horses LLC and is trained by Clinton Crawford.
Don Chuy C (First Moonflash-Jess Say Bye Bye), with jockey Esgar Ramirez aboard, closed ground late to finish on terms with Dark Moon for the place spot. Jesus Carrasco owns Don Chuy C who is trained by Joel Valeriano Jr.
Anakena (Woodbridge-Starsmith) finished in fourth and was followed across the wire by Finnley (Chicks Regard-A Scootin Princess), Mi Moonflash (First Moonflash-Mi Camila TB), Lionesse (Winners Version-Lionett), Easters Regard (Chicks Regard-Jess Might Be Famous), Jess Getaway (Jess a Chicks-Ocean Getaway), and Apollo Chicks (Jess a Chicks- Flashing Apollo TB).
FAVORITE LATIN LOVER
by John Moorehouse
The favorite at the betting window, Favorite Latin Lover rallied late to win the $136,588 La Fiesta Derby at The Downs at Albuquerque on Sept. 20.
After winning his 400-yard trial in :19.658 on Sept. 5 for the fastest qualifying time. Favorite Latin Lover showed plenty of speed in the final.
Breaking from the 9-post on a fast track under clear conditions, he was fourth at the first call and had closed
within a 1/2-length of the
lead going into the stretch.
Jockey Jacobo Enriquez-
Navarro urged his mount to
continue his rally, and he hit
the wire first by a neck.
Favorite Latin Lover finished the race in :19.489, registering a 94 speed index. He also brought home a $68,294 payday, increasing his cumulative earnings to six digits at $104,810.
Owned by Wilfrido Guillen, the sopho- more gelding secured his sixth career victory and second in stakes company. Favorite Latin Lover also won last year’s running of the Desert Classic Futurity at Turf Paradise. He holds a second-place finish in last year’s AQRA President’s Fall Futurity, which also marks the only time the gelding has failed to reach the winner’s circle since making his first out in April of 2019, at Turf Paradise.
Antonio Soto trains Favorite Latin Lover, who was co-bred by Steve Burns DVM, Paul Jones, and Thompson Racing Inc. The gelding is out of winner Jess Charming, a 2004 mare owned by Jorge Haddad who was a finalist in the Golden State Million Futurity-G1. Jess Charming has produced 100% money earners from 10 starters. Favorite Latin Lover is her first stakes winner.
Wesley Giles trains the other two horses who hit the board.
Two-time winner and fourth-fastest quali- fier My Famous Wagon (Dragon My Wagon- Miss Dash Ta Dial) finished second for owner Jill Giles with Alan Hernandez in the irons.
Tres Seis Traffic (Tres Seis-Traffic Eyes), the third fastest qualifier, fininishted in third place. Owned by Force of Nine, the gelding had Daniel Amaya aboard.
The remaining order of finish was Dr Tool (Kiss My Hocks-Where Eagles Soar), Dynast C (PYC Paint Your Wagon-Bling Dynasty), Hes Sizzling (Hes Relentless-Down Rite Fast), Kina Big Deal (Jess Louisiana Blue- Teller Sheza Doll), Valentina Relentless (Hes Relentless-Ba Little Mini), Cupids Fast Arrow (Valiant Hero-Vikes Dashing), and Dame Of Thrones (Dominyun-Specials Jamie).
142 SPEEDHORSE October 2020
Downs at Albuquerque
$244,515 • 400 yards :19.573 • si 92
Corona Cartel
Big Daddy Cartel
Miss Racy Eyes
DONELLI, ‘17-f.
Tres Seis
Tres Of Alice
Alice K White
Downs at Albuquerque
$136,588 • 400 yards :19.489 • si 94
Favorite Trick TB
Favorite Cartel
Shenoshercorona
FAVORITE LATIN LOVER, ‘17-g. Mr Jess Perry
Jess Charming
Corona Perfection
Coady Photography Coady Photography