Page 133 - NM Winter 2023

THE DOWNS AT ALBUQUERQUE
AQHA Albuquerque Distance Chal. (G2)
Photos by Coady Photography
First Moonflash
First To Flash
Nagano Moon
Bundle Doe
Hennessy
Oh Whatta Knockout
BIG MOON DAWG
Big Moon Dawg, a registered New Mexico-bred son of champion First Moonflash, led at every call en route to
a two-length win in the September 24, $56,100 AQHA Albuquerque Distance Challenge Stakes-G2 at Albuquerque Downs.
Prepped by Armando Alamos for owner Steve Berry and racing against a reported 7-mph head wind in the homestretch, Big Moon Dawg covered 870 yards in :45.569. Alejandro Medellin rode the 3-year-old gelding, who earned the $29,172 winner’s share of the purse from his first stakes win, and a berth in the October 21 AQHA Distance Challenge Championship (G1) at Lone Star Park near Dallas.
Big Moon Dawg was making his first start since June 18, when he ran second
in an 870-yard, $33,000 non-winners-of- two allowance race at Ruidoso Downs. The gelding’s sire, First Moonflash, was the sport’s champion aged stallion in 2009. A New Mexico-bred son of the First Down Dash stallion First To Flash, First Moonflash earned $969,828 from 25 races and won 10 graded stakes in New Mexico from 2007-09.
First Moonflash has sired the earners of more than $27.5 million from 11 crops, including champions Foxy Moonflash, Flash And Roll and Handsome Jack Flash. The stallion died on May 29, 2019.
Big Moon Dawg is out of Bundle Doe, a daughter of the Storm Cat (TB) stallion Hennessy (TB), and he is a half-brother to multiple stakes winner Movin The Doe and stakes winner Gunnin For Doe. The gelding’s third dam, Genuine Knockout, was a winning and stakes-placed daughter of 1981 world champion Special Effort.
Big Moon Dawg traces back to his fourth dam, Possumjet, a daughter of 1963 world champion Jet Deck and the winner of the 1972 All American Futurity. Raced in two states, including Arizona, Big Moon Dawg has won two of 12 starts -- including two of five at the 870-yard trip -- and he has earned $64,732, of which $61,536 has been banked from seven outs this year.
Volcoms Favorite ran second and was followed by Stolin Train, A Rebels Revenge and Discodancinpatriot.
A 4-year-old son of the Good Reason SA stallion Jess Good Candy owned by Nove
Racing LLC, Volcoms Favorite was coming off of a second-place run in an 870-yard, $41,400 open-condition allowance race at Albuquerque Downs on September 8. The Oklahoma-bred gelding has won three of 14 starts, and the $12,903 runner-up share of the Albuquerque Distance Challenge purse increased his bankroll to $74,563.
Stolin Train is a 7-year-old son of the Strawfly Special stallion Desirio campaigned by Goodrich Quarter Horses. The Utah-bred gelding has won three of 31 races, and the $6,452 third-place share of the purse pushed his earnings to $73,676.
WINTER 2023 131