Page 52 - New Mexico Summer 2021

SUNRAY PARK
Jack Cole Stakes
by Michael Cusortelli
Train Rider Blues
Desert God
Cara Marisa
It’s A Rainbow
Menifee
Skyshine
WEST DAWN
Marina Velazquez’s West Dawn, a 4-year- old chestnut son of the Desert God stallion Train Rider Blues, won the May 8, $50,000 Jack Cole Stakes (R) for New Mexico-bred Thoroughbreds at SunRay Park.
Ridden by Enrique Gomez for trainer Rafael Barraza, West Dawn went 6 1/2-fur- longs in 1:18.21, and his margin of victory was 1 1/4-lengths from Jet N G. The gelding earned $30,000 from his fifth
win in 18 starts.
West Dawn was bred by Freda Howard McSwane. The gelding’s sire, Train Rider Blues, is a 14-year-old New Mexico-bred stallion who from 2009-11 banked $423,303 from 28 outs and won five stakes, includ- ing the 2010 New Mexico Cup Colts & Geldings Stakes (R) at Zia Park.
A full brother to three-time stakes win- ner Desert Hennessy, Train Rider Blues has sired three winners from as many starters and the earners of more than $193,000. He is owned by Freda McSwane and Joe D. Walters, and he stands at Chaparral Farms at Hobbs, New Mexico.
West Dawn is one of four winners from as many starters foaled by It’s A Rainbow, a win- ning daughter of the Harlan stallion Menifee.
The gelding is a half-brother to It’s Tera, the runner-up in the 2011 Pepsi Cola Stakes (R) at Sunland Park.
West Dawn’s second dam, Skyshine, was a winning Sky Classic mare.
The gelding traces back to his third dam, Sometimesadiamond, an unraced daughter of Mr. Prospector who produced Dixieland Diamond, a half-brother to Skyshine who won two Ontario-bred stakes at Woodbine Racecourse near Toronto in ‘99.
Raced in New Mexico and Arizona, West Dawn has earned $111,233. His record includes a second-place finish, 4 1/4-lengths behind winner Lariat, in last year’s 6-furlong, $50,000 New Mexico Cup Derby Championship (R) at Zia Park.
Runner-up Jet N G is a homebred 6-year- old Mr. Trieste gelding racing for Maurcenia Cross. Jet N G has won five of 27 outs in New Mexico and Arizona, and the $10,000 runner- up share of the Jack Cole Stakes purse bumped his bankroll to $205,869.
Thunder Dome, the 9-5 favorite in the field of six, ran third, 6 3/4-lengths behind West Dawn. Strawberry Whisky, Mister Kowen, and Ancient Land completed the order of finish.
Thunder Dome has won 11 of 44 races and has earned $677,440 for his owners, W.D. Carson Sr., M.H. Carson, and Leach Racing LLC. The 7-year-old chestnut Dome gelding has won six stakes, including the 2018 and ‘20 O.D. McDonald Stakes (R) at Albuquerque Downs.
50 New Mexico Horse Breeder
Coady Photography
Coady Photography