Page 89 - New Mexico Horse Breeder Spring 2018

Mt. Cristo Rey Handicap (R)
by Michael Cusortelli
Pro Prado
El Prado
Mama’s Pro
Ghostly Belle
Ghostly Moves
Hometown Belle
CITIZEN GELLER
Citizen Geller was a prompt 8-5 favorite in the $85,000 Mt. Cristo Rey Handicap (R) at Sunland Park on February 4.
Racing for Larry and Denise Nichols’ UKUSA Stables of El Paso, Texas, Citizen Geller covered 4 1/2 furlongs in :50.14, and his margin of victory was three-quarters of a length from 2-1 second choice Tilla Cat. Ry Eikleberry rode the homebred 6-year-old gelding for trainer Justin Evans.
Citizen Geller has won nine of his 34 starts, including all three of his outs at the 4 1/2-furlong trip. The gelding is one of 28 winners from 42 starters sired by Pro Prado, a stakes-winning Kentucky-bred son of the Sadler’s Wells stallion El Prado (IRE) and a half brother to the listed stakes-placed Artie Schiller filly Parkhurst.
Campaigned from 2003-07, Pro Prado earned $397,514 from 37 starts, and he ran third in Smarty Jones’ 2004 Arkansas Derby (G2) at Oaklawn Park. The stallion has sired two official black-type stakes winners and the earners of more than $1.7 million from eight crops. He is owned by Chris P. Hourigan and stands at Hourigan Horse Farm at Anthony, New Mexico.
Citizen Geller is one of two winners from as many starters produced by Ghostly Belle, a win- ning daughter of Ghostly Moves. Citizen Geller’s second dam, the winning Homebuilder mare Hometown Belle, foaled Hometown Ghost, a full brother to Ghostly Belle who won the ‘05 Spring Futurity (R) at Albuquerque Downs.
Citizen Geller’s third dam, the Qui Native mare Jacque Qui, produced two stakes winners, both of whom were half sisters to Hometown Belle, including Secret Rendezvous, the winner of the $52,500 Cincinnati Trophy Stakes at Turfway Park in 1995.
The $51,000 winner’s share of the Mt. Cristo Rey purse pushed Citizen Geller’s bankroll to $390,394, of which $148,970 was pocketed from six races last season. The gelding has won five stakes, including the 2016 Mt. Cristo Rey Handicap, and two stakes during the 2017 Albuquerque Downs summer meet.
Big Hitter, a 12-1 longshot in the field
of eight, finished third and was followed by Weappear, Way Nifty, Plenty Of Joy, D E Lover, and Wyatt.
Runner-up Tilla Cat, one of only two distaffers in the field, races for Dale Taylor, Lee Lewis, Joe Dee Brooks, Scott Bryant, and Derrol Hubbard. The 5-year-old chestnut daughter of Attila’s Storm has won five of 24 starts and has earned $318,369.
A 4-year-old gelding owned by Brad King and Dale Taylor, Big Hitter has won three of 11 starts, and the $8,500 third-place share of the Mt. Cristo Rey purse bumped his bankroll to $78,920.
Siximoons is owned by Jerry Bailey and Tres Mesa Horses and has won two of eight starts, and the $17,000 runner-up share of the NMHBA Stakes purse boosted his bankroll to $65,643. His resume includes a third-place run, a 1/2-length behind Nolans Theory, in last year’s 400-yard, $50,000 By By JJ Stakes (R) at Ruidoso Downs.
Daddys Blushing races for Gary W. Hartstack of Houston, Texas. Daddys Blushing has won five of eight races and has earned $235,054.
NMHBA STAKES (RG2)
SUNLAND pArk
First Moonflash
First To Flash
Nagano Moon
Subtly Sixy
Streakin Sixes
Subtly Aggressive
A PASSIoN FoR FLASHN
RC Racing LLC’s A Passion For Flashn made his 3-year-old debut with a one-length victory in the February 18 New Mexico Horse Breeders’ Association Stakes (RG2) for state-bred sopho- mores at Sunland Park.
Ridden by Jose Luis Enriquez for trainer Martin Orona Sr. and aided by a reported 6-mph tail wind, A Passion For Flashn covered 400 yards in :19.990 on a track officially labeled “slow.” The colt earned a 79 speed index and the $51,000 winner’s share of the $85,000 purse.
A Passion For Flashn was making his first start since Dec. 31, when he ran fourth, 1 3/4 lengths behind winner Despain GL, in the 400-yard, $200,000 Sunland Park Juvenile Championship. The colt was bred by JMH Racing LLC, and he was a $6,500 yearling purchase at the 2016 New Mexico-Bred Sale at Ruidoso Downs.
A Passion For Flashn’s sire, First Moonflash, was the AQHA champion aged stallion in 2009. Now 13, First Moonflash has sired the earners of more than $10.6 million from six crops, including 2013 champion 2-year-old Handsome Jack Flash,
‘14 Champion 3-Year-Old filly Foxy Moonflash, and 2014 All American Derby (G1) winner Too Flash For You.
First Moonflash is a half brother to graded stakes winners Dash Ta Moon and Moonifisant, and he was the sport’s leading freshman sire in ‘13. The stallion is owned by a partnership, and he stands at W.L. Mooring’s Double LL Farm at Bosque, New Mexico.
A Passion For Flashn is out of Subtly Sixy, a winning daughter of Streakin Sixes. Campaigned exclusively in New Mexico, the colt has banked $274,596 from 12 outs, and his five wins include a neck victory in last year’s 400-yard, $300,000 New Mexico Cup Futurity (RG2) at Zia Park. He also was a finalist in the 350-yard, $393,000 Mountain Top Futurity (RG3) and 400-yard, $371,000 Zia Futurity (RG1), both at Ruidoso Downs.
Siximoons finished second and was followed by Daddys Blushing, Cadilac Flash, Moneys A Maker, He Be Flashy, 2-1 favorite Everybuddys Talkin, Regard The Rose, Jessies Gone, and Jessa Diva.
SPRING 2018 87
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