Page 104 - New Mexico Winter 2021

ZIA PARK
Story by Michael Cusortelli • Photos by Coady Photography
Namehimastreaker NM Cup Champ. (RG1)
First Moonflash
First To Flash
Nagano Moon
Jess Say Bye Bye
Spit Curl Jess
Ally Bye Bye
DON CHUY C
Making just his second career start at the clas- sic 440-yard distance, Don Chuy C rallied on the outside part of the track to win the October 31, $100,000 Namehimastreaker New Mexico Cup Championship (RG1) at Zia Park.
Don Chuy C defeated Colby James by a neck while making his quarter-mile trip in :21.328 under jockey Manuel Gutierrez. Jaime Aldavaz Sr. prepped the 4-year-old son of First Moonflash for owner Jesus Carrasco.
Don Chuy C’s clocking from his first graded stakes victory was aided by a reported 17-mph tail wind. The stallion was bred by Mike Abraham.
His sire, the First To Flash stallion First Moonflash, earned $969,828 from 25 starts from 2007-09, and hewasvotedAQHAchampionagedstallionin2009.
A half-brother to four stakes winners, includ- ing graded stakes winners Dash Ta Moon and Moonifisant, First Moonflash has sired the earn- ers of more than $22.3 million from nine crops, including AQHA champions Handsome Jack Flash, Flash And Roll, and Foxy Moonflash, and 2014 All American Derby (G1) winner Too Flash For You, and he was the sport’s leading freshman sire in 2013. First Moonflash died due to compli- cations from laminitis in May 2019.
Don Chuy C’s dam, Jess Say Bye Bye, is a 10-year-old daughter of the Mr Jess Perry stallion
Spit Curl Jess. His second dam, the winning Chicks Beduino mare Ally Bye Bye, foaled two stakes winners, both of whom were half siblings to Jess Bye Bye, including graded stakes winner Missourian.
Don Chuy C’s third dam, the winning Oh Shiney mare Bye Bye Imgone, produced 1994 Speedhorse Gold Cup Futurity (RG2) winner and stakes producer Sweet Bye And Bye, a half- sister to Ally Bye Bye.
Don Chuy C was coming off of a third-place finish, 2 1/4 lengths behind winner Valiant Tiberias, in the September 19, 440-yard Albuquerque Fall Championship (G1) at Albuquerque Downs. He has won four of 19 starts -- including the 2019 By By JJ Stakes (R) for New Mexico-bred 2-year-olds atRuidosoDowns, andthe$60,000winner’s
share of the Namehimastreaker New Mexico
Cup Championship purse pushed his bankroll to $200,990.
Don Chuy C returned an $8.40 win mutuel as the 3-1 favorite in the full field of 10. Runner-up Colby James, the 4.20-to-1 third choice, com- pleted a $50.20 ($2) exacta.
Marcus Medallion ran third, 1 1/4 lengths behind Don Chuy C, and was followed by No Mires A La Luna, Diamond And A Half, Flashing Moolah, Burn One Down For Me, Your Easy Jess, Effortless Candy Cat, and Freedom Flash.
Colby James is a sorrel son of Jesse James Jr racing for Rex Wells, who purchased the gelding as a yearlingfor$15,000atthe2018NewMexico-Bred Sale at Ruidoso Downs. Colby James has earned $425,208 from 17 starts, and his two lifetime stakes victories include the 2019 Mountain Top Futurity (RG2) for state-bred 2-year-olds at Ruidoso Downs.
Marcus Medallion earned $10,000 to bring his bankroll to $382,803 from 34 outs in three states, including Oklahoma and Texas. An 8-year-old son of Jesse James Jr owned by Jaime Aldavaz Sr., the sorrel gelding has won eight races, and his three career stakes victories include the 2019 Zia Handicap (RG2) at Ruidoso Downs.
102 New Mexico Horse Breeder