Page 67 - NMHBA Spring 2022

NM State Racing Commission H. (R)
Paul Jenson’s Lemon Drop Gold outran her 14-1 odds to win the January 1, 5 1/2-furlong New Mexico State Racing Commission Handicap (R) for state-bred fillies and mares at Sunland Park.
Ridden by Frank Reyes for trainer Juan
Carlos Gonzalez, Lemon Drop Gold defeated 10-1 longshot Mindofmyown by 3 1/2 lengths in 1:07.29 on a sealed track. The 5-year-old Mr. Gold Mover mare earned the $60,000 winner’s share.
Lemon Drop Gold was bred by JT & B Racing, and she became the third official black- type stakes winner from 48 starters sired by Mr. Gold Mover, an unraced 14-year-old Virginia- bred son of the Gone West stallion Mr. Greeley. A half-brother to stakes winners Giant Mover and Maleeh, Mr. Gold Mover has sired the earners of more than $1.6 million, including stakes winners Sidewinder Sally and P J’s Gold.
Mr. Gold Mover entered stud in 2013. The stallion is owned by Barton Ranch Stables LLC and Blake Rust, and he stands for a $1,500 fee at W.L. and Dee Mooring’s Double L Farm at Bosque, New Mexico.
Lemon Drop Gold is to date the lone starter foaled by Poison Pen, an unplaced 12-year-old Kentucky-bred mare by the Kingmambo stallion Lemon Drop Kid. Lemon Drop Gold’s third dam, the Caerleon mare Victory Cry (IRE), won two
stakes in France in 1999, including the Grand Prix de Vichy (G3). Lemon Drop Gold’s fourth dam, the Lear Fan mare Verveine, won two stakes in France from 1991-93, including the 1993 Ciga Prix de l’Opera (G2).
A half-sister to multiple stakes winner Vetheuil, Verveine produced a total of four stakes winners, including Volga, a full sister to Victory Cry who three graded stakes in North America in 2003, including the $750,000 E.P. Taylor Stakes (G1) at Woodbine Racecourse near Toronto.
Lemon Drop Gold was making her first start since October 31, when she ran fifth, 3 1/2 lengths behind winner Sheza Dandy R F, in the 6-furlong, $100,000 New Mexico Cup Distaff Sprint Championship (R) at Zia Park. Raced exclusively in New Mexico, the mare has won three of six outs, and the winner’s share of the purse from her first stakes score bumped her earnings to $92,854.
Lemon Drop Gold returned a $30.80
win mutuel and teamed with runner-up Mindofmyown for a $342.80 ($2) exacta dividend. Flaxy Lady finished third at odds of 6-1, five lengths behind the winner, to complete a $1 trifecta payoff of $1,135.
Marking Time, Sexy Bikini Model, Blue Blazes Who, Line Call, Tight Fittin Jeans, and Sheza Dandy R F completed the order of finish.
Mindofmyown is a homebred 6-year-old daughter of the Diligence stallion Diligent Prospect owned by Wesley T. Gray. A winner at the $6,250 claiming level during the 2021 Albuquerque Downs meet, the gray or roan mare has won eight of 27 starts, and the $20,000 runner-up share
of the New Mexico State Racing Commission Handicap purse pushed her bankroll to $147,750.
Flaxy Lady is a 7-year-old daughter of the Dixieland Band stallion Firejack racing for Amanda Sweeten, who claimed the chestnut mare for $7,500 at Zia Park on October 25. Flaxy Lady has won seven of 23 starts, and the $10,000 third- place share of the purse increased her earnings to $102,998.
Photos by Coady Photography
SUNLAND PARK
Mr. Gold Mover
Mr. Greeley
Gold Mover
Poison Pen
Lemon Drop Kid
Venitienne
LEMON DROP GOLD
SPRING 2022 65