Page 94 - New Mexico Winter 2021

ZIA PARK
Story by Michael Cusortelli • Photos by Coady Photography
New Mexico Cup Futurity (RG2)
First Moonflash
First To Flash
Nagano Moon
Episode Of Fire
Walk Thru Fire
Last Episode
FLASHIN FIRE
A $20,000 claim in April, Flashin Fire continues to pay dividends for his connec- tions, as the gelded son of First Moonflash sped to a wire-to-wire victory in the October 31, $300,940 New Mexico Cup Futurity (RG2) for state-bred 2-year-old Quarter Horses at Zia Park.
Flashin Fire covered 350 yards in :17.480 and earned a 99 speed index while aided by a reported 16-mph tail wind, and his winning margin was a neck from Jess Ring The Bell. Juan Pulido rode the sorrel gelding for owner Josefina Guzman and trainer Santos Carrizales Jr.
Flashin Fire was bred by Donna McPherson and Mike Abraham, and he was claimed by the late Jose E. Guzman for $20,000 in his career debut on April 11 at Remington Park. His sire, First Moonflash, was the sport’s champion aged stallion in 2009. A son of champion First To Flash, First Moonflash earned $969,828 and won 10 stakes while racing from 2007-09.
First Moonflash has sired the earners of more than $22.3 million from nine crops, including AQHA champions Handsome Jack Flash, Flash And Roll, and Foxy Moonflash, Grade 1 winner Too Flash For You, and multiple graded stakes winners Ryansmanonthemoon and No Mires A La Luna. The stallion died in May 2019 due to complications from laminitis.
Flashin Fire’s dam, the 13-year-old Walk Thru Fire mare Episode Of Fire, was a
finalist in the 2010 All American Futurity (G1) at Ruidoso Downs. The gelding’s second dam, the Bold Episode mare Last Episode, won two stakes in 1992, including the Longhorn Futurity at Manor Downs. Last Episode produced Heza Bold Man, a half-brother to Episode Of Fire who won the 1998 Manor Downs Futurity (G1) and 1999 Heritage Place Derby (G1), and A Special Episode, a winning half-sister to Episode of Fire who foaled 2002 champion 2-year-old gelding Eye Opening Episode.
Flashin Fire set the fastest qualifying time with his neck victory in the last of six New Mexico Cup Futurity trials on October 10.
All told, the gelding has won four of six races -- including four of five since the claim -- and the $147,461 winner’s share of the purse from his second career stakes victory boosted his earnings to $292,010. Flashin Fire’s Ruidoso Downs summer campaign included a neck victory in the 400-yard, $320,000 Zia Futurity (RG1) on August 1.
LMG First Call crossed the wire third,
1 1/4 lengths behind Flashin Fire, but the
First Moonflash gelding was disqualified
and placed fifth for bearing out and costing Liarliarlegsonfire a better placing. Daddies Wish was placed third and was followed officially by Liarliarlegsonfire, LMG First Call, RZ Richy, Illegal Review, Jesses Dinero, Rally Up The Alley, and Smittin.
Runner-up Jess Ring The Bell banked the $51,159 second-place share of the purse to bring his earnings to $92,445 from seven races for his owner, NJ Farms LLC. The sorrel Jess A Chicks gelding was a final-
ist in the Zia Futurity (RG1) and June 20, $280,000 Mountain Top Futurity (RG2) at Ruidoso Downs.
Daddies Wish races for Julie A. Schoenhofer and Maricela Vasquez, who purchased the gray Big Daddy Cartel filly for $32,000 at last year’s Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. Daddies Wish has banked $46,129 from eight outs, and her record includes third-place finishes in the August 1, $50,000 Zia Juvenile Stakes (R) at Ruidoso Downs, and the September 19, $50,000 New Mexico State Fair Juvenile Stakes (R) at Albuquerque Downs.
92 New Mexico Horse Breeder