Page 113 - NM Winter 2023

RUIDOSO DOWNS
Land Of Enchantment Stakes (R)
Photos by Ruidoso Downs, Bailey Ivey
Monterey Jazz
Thunderello
Reefside
Rodinia
Bluegrass Cat
Fahamore
ANCIENT LAND
Ancient Land, a 6-year-old son of Monterey Jazz, led at every call en route to a half-length victory in the July 22, 7 1/2-furlong Land of Enchantment Stakes (R) for New Mexico-bred Thoroughbreds at Ruidoso Downs.
Prepped by Casey Lambert for owners Martin Riley, D. Carroll, C. Scott and J. Howard, Ancient Land set fractions of :24.19, :48.61, and 1:14.94 before reaching the wire in 1:35.92 on a sloppy and sealed track. Kelsi Purcell rode the dark bay or brown gelding, who earned the $30,000 winner’s share of the $50,000 purse.
Ancient Land was bred by Dr. Patricia Davis, and he sold as a yearling for $18,000 at the 2018 New Mexico-Bred Sale at Ruidoso Downs. The gelding is the lone official black-type stakes winner from 53 starters sired by Monterey Jazz,
a Kentucky-bred son of the Montbrook stallion Thunderello. Racing from 2006-12, Monterey Jazz earned $760,841 from 37 starts and won four graded stakes, including the 2008 Strub Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park and 2009 American Handicap (G2) at Hollywood Park.
Monterey Jazz has from eight crops sired the earners of more than $1.1 million, including 2021 Rio Grande Senor Futurity (R) runner-up Lead Monterey.
Ancient Land is also one of three winners from three starters produced by Rodinia, a winning New York-bred daughter of the Storm Cat stallion Bluegrass Cat. The gelding’s second dam, the unplaced Kentucky-bred Gulch mare Fahamore, foaled four winners from six starters, including Akilina, a half-sister to Rodinia who won two stakes in 2009, including the Pago Hop Stakes at Fair Grounds Racecourse.
Ancient Land traces back to his fourth dam, Classy Cathy, a daughter of the Damascus stallion Private Account who won three Grade 1 stakes in 1986, including the $200,000 Alabama Stakes (G1) at Saratoga.
Ancient Land has won eight of 23 races, including four stakes, and he has earned $279,479. The gelding’s three wins in four outs at the 7 1/2-furlong distance include the 2021 Land of Enchantment Stakes.
Jet N G finished second and was followed by Spinning Black, Masterclass, The Last Feat and Jet Set Warrior.
Jet N G is a homebred dark bay or brown 8-year-old son of the Old Trieste stallion
Mr. Trieste racing for Maurcenia Cross. The gelding has won eight of 53 races, including the 2021 Rocky Gulch New Mexico Cup Championship (R) at Zia Park, and the $10,000 runner-up share of the purse increased his earnings to $508,883.
A 6-year-old son of the Touchdown Ky stallion Spinning Touch, Spinning Black has won four of 34 starts, and the $5,000 third- place share of the purse pushed the black gelding’s bankroll to $119,574.
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