Page 80 - New Mexico Horse Breeder Spring 2018

Zia park
by Michael Cusortelli
New Mexico Filly & Mare Championship (RG1)
Zulu Dragon
First Down Dash
Hidden Dragon
Banking Lane
Devon Lane (TB)
Banking Disco
RUNNING DRAGON
Running Dragon, a homebred 3-year-old daughter of Zulu Dragon racing for the By
By JJ Limited Partnership of El Paso, Texas, sprinted to a neck victory in the November 22, $140,000 New Mexico Filly and Mare Championship-RG1 for state-bred distaffers at Zia Park.
Ridden by Adrian Ramos for trainer Juan M. Gonzalez, Running Dragon covered 400 yards in: 19.755 while posting a 90 speed index. The $84,000 winner’s share of the purse pushed the gray filly’s earnings to $695,842.
Running Dragon was shortening in distance off of her fourth-place finish, 1 3/4 lengths behind winner Major Bites, in the 440-yard, $170,000 Namehimastreaker New Mexico Cup Championship (RG1) at Zia Park on October 29. The filly’s sire, Zulu Dragon, is an 11-year-old son of all-time leading sire and 1987 world champion First Down Dash and ’03 New Mexican Spring Futurity (RG1) win- ner Hidden Dragon.
Racing in New Mexico from 2009-13, Zulu Dragon earned $180,054 from 29 outs, and his six wins included victories in the 2011 La Plata Stakes (G3) at SunRay Park and ’12 James Isaac Hobbs Stakes (G2) at Zia Park. The stal- lion has sired the earners of more than $1.15 million from two crops, including 2016 New
Mexico Cup Futurity (RG2) winner Magnifico Dragon.
Zulu Dragon is a half-brother to stakes win- ner Heza Wild Dragon. The stallion is owned by Zulu Dragon LLC and stands for a $6,000 fee at Frontera Training Center at Sunland Park, New Mexico.
Running Dragon is one of two starters pro- duced by Banking Lane, a homebred daughter of the Storm Cat (TB) stallion Devon Lane (TB). The filly’s third dam, the Disco Jerry (TB) mare Quick Step Disco, won the ’94 Ruidoso Horse Sale Futurity (RG3) at Sunland Park.
Running Dragon has won 11 of 17 outs while racing exclusively in New Mexico. She has won six stakes, including the 2017 Shue Fly Stakes (RG2) and Sunburst Stakes (RG3), both at Sunland Park.
First Vegas Moon finished third, 1 1/4 lengths behind Running Dragon. Sixie Won, Straw Fly Flower, 9-5 favorite Princess Jesse, Get Down Bambi, Carson City Girl, Lady Version, and Eyesawagon completed the order of finish.
Princess Jesse Jane is a 3-year-old daughter of Jesse James Jr owned by Daniel Nunez. The sorrel filly has won two of 11 races, and the $30,800 runner-up share of the New Mexico Filly and Mare Championship purse pushed
her bankroll to $120,383, of which $111,103 was pocketed from six starts in 2017. Princess Jesse Jane was coming off of a second-place finish, a half of a length behind winner Yudes Jess Dashin, in the 440-yard, $219,817 New Mexico Cup Derby (RG2) for state-bred sopho- mores at Zia Park on October 29.
A sorrel 3-year-old daughter of 2009 AQHA champion aged stallion First Moonflash, First Vegas Moon races for RC Racing LLC. The filly has won two of 14
starts and has earned $53,548, and her resume includes a second-place run, 1 1/4 lengths behind winner Miss Call Me First, in the 2016 By JJ Stakes (R) for New Mexico-bred juveniles at Ruidoso Downs.
78 New Mexico Horse Breeder
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