Page 99 - New Mexico Winter 2021

New Mexico Cup Sprint Champ. (R)
Longshot Strawberry Whisky unleashed a strong stretch run to win the October 31, 6-fur- long New Mexico Cup Sprint Championship (R) for New Mexico-breds at Zia Park.
Sent to post at odds of 50-1, Strawberry Whisky defeated Evacuee by one length while stopping the timer in 1:10.11. Aldo Arboleda rode the 4-year-old son of Fusaichi Zenon (JPN) for owner and trainer Celio Trujillo Jr.
Strawberry Whisky was coming off of a fifth- place finish, in a 6-furlong, $36,000 non-winners- of-three allowance for New Mexico-breds at Albuquerque Downs on August 25. The dark bay or brown gelding was bred by Michael Weatherly, and he is one of 63 winners from 96 starters sired by Fusaichi Zenon, a stakes-winning son of 1989 Horse of the Year Sunday Silence.
Raced in North America and Asia, Fusaichi Zenon earned $768,157 from eight outs. From 15 crops, he has sired four black-type stakes winners and the earners of more than $3.2 million, includ- ing multiple stakes winner Zenon’s Star and stakes winner Not My Note.
Fusaichi Zenon is a full brother to multiple stakes winners Agnes Gold (JPN) and Limitless Bid (JPN), and he entered stud in 2004. The 24-year-old stallion is owned by Armando Orozco Jr., and he stands at Orozco Ranch at Sunland
Park, New Mexico.
A half-brother to 2015 Lincoln Handicap (R)
runner-up Strawberry Bling, Strawberry Whisky is one of six winners in as many starters foaled
by Strawberry Pet, a winning daughter of the Seeking The Gold stallion Petionville. The geld- ing’s second dam, the winning Strawberry Road (AUS) mare Strawberry Runner, produced eight winners from as many starters, including Princess Samala, a winning half- sister to Strawberry Pet who ran second in the 2005 Swept Away Stakes at Calder Racecourse near Miami, Florida.
Strawberry Whisky’s third dam, the Kentucky-bred Northern Prospect mare Norangle, won the 1988 Crocus Stakes (R) at Garden State Park in New Jersey.
Strawberry Whisky ended his sophomore campaign with a 1 3/4-length win in a 6-furlong non-winners-of-two allowance race at Zia Park on December 22. Raced exclusively in New Mexico, Strawberry Whisky has won three of 12 starts, and the $60,000 winner’s share of the $100,000 purse bumped his earnings to $103,547.
Monterey Secret finished fourth, fol- lowed by Stormin Fast, Golden Band, Wheredoesthecashgo, Reining Pesos, Cerveza, Hold Me Only, and Del Mar Summer.
Evacuee is a 4-year-old son of the Pulpit stallion
Abstraction owned by B4 Farms LLC. A $30,000 yearling buy at the 2018 New Mexico-Bred Sale
at Ruidoso Downs, the dark bay or brown gelding has won three of 17 races, including the 2019 New Mexico State Fair Futurity (R) at Albuquerque Downs, and the $20,000 runner-up share of the New Mexico Cup Sprint Championship purse increased his earnings to $228,129.
Hollywood Henry races for Bennie A. Vanecek. A $17,000 yearling purchase at the 2016 New Mexico-Bred Sale, the gelded son of Roll Hennessy Roll has banked $311,035 from 28 starts, and his nine wins include a 5 3/4-length victory in the July 31, 5 1/2-furlong Sierra Blanca Stakes (R) at Ruidoso Downs.
Story by Michael Cusortelli • Photos by Coady Photography
ZIA PARK
Fusaichi Zenon
Sunday Silence
Elizabeth Rose
Strawberry Pet
Petionville
Strawberry Runner
STRAWBERRY WHISKY
WINTER 2021 97