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RACING NEWS
Whosleavingwho Handicap
BAIL CZECH
Lby Tracy Gantz
os Alamitos called the Sept. 17 stakes the
Whosleavingwho Handicap, but the answer to that question quickly became obvious. EG High Desert Farm’s homebred Bail Czech left his four rivals battling for second place with a decisive victory in the 350-yard event.
Breaking from the outside post under jockey Irving Lara, Bail Czech took a couple of strides to get into gear. Then he began pulling away, dominating his rivals and eventually winning by 1 1/2-lengths in :17.524 as the 3-5 favorite.
Santos Perez trains Bail Czech, who was winning his third career stakes, for EG High Desert. The 6-year- old gelding also won the 2019 Vandys Flash Handicap and 2020 Spencer L. Childers California Breeders Championship Handicap-RG1. In stakes competition, Bail Czech has finished second twice and third twice.
EG High Desert bred Bail Czech in California from its homebred Letty Bail Regis Out, winner of the 2012 California Breeders’ Debutante Stakes. The mare has four starters, all winners, including stakes winners Diamonds Blue Eye and A Mere Bail.
Erik Flores’ homebred Milan Red (Corona Cartel-Whatta Knockout) ran second. Cesar Franco rode the 4-year-old colt for trainer Valentin Zamudio. Milan Red ran third in this year’s Independence Day Handicap-G3.
Other World (Foose-Celestial Being-TB) and Five Bar Runner (Five Bar Cartel-Check Her Running) dead-heated for third. Zamudio also trains Other World, who is owned by Vic3tory LLC and was ridden by Juan Leon. Other World won two stakes last year. Lindolfo Diaz trains Five Bar Runner for owner-breeder J. Francisco Diaz. Jesus Ayala rode the 3-year-old allowance-winning gelding.
Gentleman Chuck (Favorite Cartel-Nymph) finished fourth, and Rox Win (Seperate Interest- Mindys Favorite) finished fifth.
First Moonflash Maturity-RG2
NO MIRES A LA LUNA
Nby Danny Camp
o Mires A La Luna wasn’t looking at the moon,
he was eyeballing the finish line in the running of the First Moonflash Maturity-RG2 hosted by the Downs At Albuquerque. It was a 440-yard stakes event for four-year-old and older horses that boasted of a total purse worth $75,000.
No Mires A La Luna was hungry for a win when he broke in second plac from the number four post with Noe Garcia Jr aboard. They got away like a couple of veterans, and they knew the money was paid at the wire not at the gate. The raced in second place until the top of the stretch when they took the lead by 1/2-length. With a steady and even effort, No Mires A La Luna coasted to a 1/2-length victory.
No Mires A La Luna stopped the clock at :21.404 to earn a 92 speed index. The bay gelded son of First Moonflash also earned the first place check worth $45,000. His total bankroll now stands at $585,605, and he has won seven races out of 32 career starts.
His team includes owner Byron Woodard and trainer Ebert Munoz. No Mires A La Luna was bred in New Mexico by Woodard out of the dam Dont Looke Ethel. She is a ROM earner and has produced five foals. No Mires A La Luna is her best product.
Man Of Faith (One Handsome Man-Rockets Glare) was fresh off a win last month and with a strong finish he was able to pocket second place money. Connections include Jose E. Vargas and trainer Omar Vargas. Alfredo Sigala was in the saddle.
The photo showed that Hs Paul Walker (Osbaldo- Strawberryberryfast) was in third place. He is owned by Hubaldo Solis and trained by Alfredo Gomez. Jacob Enriquez was in the irons.
The field finished like this: Flashing Moolah (First Moonflash-Chicks Chamisa), Mi Moonflash (First Moonflash-Mi Camila TB), Chicky Chicky Kai (Jess A Chicks-Wahene Kai) & Bigg Dee (Big Daddy Cartel- Miss Woody Dee).
AQHA ALB Distance Chal.-G2
NICOS FIRST CARTEL
Sby Michael Cusortelli
ent to post at odds of 12-1, Erica Carreon’s
Nicos First Cartel scored an upset victory
in the $56,100 AQHA Albuquerque Distance Challenge-G2 at Albuquerque Downs on Sept. 17.
Nicos First Cartel covered 870 yards wire-to-wire
in :44.652, and his winning margin was 2 1/4-lengths over 19-1 longshot Grey Handsome. Alejandro Medellin rode the 6-year-old gelding for trainer Jesus Carrete.
Wascallywittlewabbit, the sport’s reigning Champion Distance Horse and heavy favorite in the field of six, finished third.
Nicos First Cartel was bred in Arizona by Fernando Canales. The gelding is out of Cartel Moon, a winning daughter of the Corona Cartel stallion Royal Cartel. He traces back to his third dam, Shake It To Em, a winning daughter of 2-time World Champion Dash For Cash and a finalist in three futurities at Los Alamitos in 1980.
In addition to banking $28,050 from his first career stakes win, Nicos First Cartel earned a berth in the Oct. 22 AQHA Distance Challenge Championship-G1 at Horseshoe Indianapolis. The gelding has won six of 32 races -- including five of 21 at the 870-yard distance
-- and he has earned $145,070. His resume includes
a 2nd-place finish in the 2020 AQHA Albuquerque Distance Challenge.
Grey Handsome (Hez Our Secret-Miss Free House) pocketed the $12,061 runner-up share for his owner, A.J. Renner. Gerardo Vera rode the homebred 5-year-old gelding for trainer Donna McArthur. Wascallywittlewabbit (Heza Motor Scooter-Rabbits N Diamonds) banked $6,171 to brings his earnings to $380,359 from 26 starts for his owner, Rogers Farms. Benito Baca rode the 7-year-old gelding
for trainer Mike Joiner. American Favorite (Favorite Cartel-Allamericandreamgirl), Bojangles Comin (Feature Mr Bojangles-Rumba Casino), and You
Rock My Hocks (Kiss My Hocks-Lil Famous Dash) completed the order of finish.
The Downs at Albuquerque • $75,000
440 yards • :21.404 • si 92
First To Flash
First Moonflash
Nagano Moon
Genuine Strawfly
Dont Looke Ethel
NO MIRES A LA LUNA, ‘16-g.
Minnie Coup
The Downs at Albuquerque • $56,100
870 yards • :44.652 • si 94
Mr Jess Perry
First Prize Perry
First Prize Dash
NICOS FIRST CARTEL, ‘16-g.
Royal Cartel
Cartel Moon
Shake The Moon
Los Alamitos • $20,000
350 yards • :17.524 • si 85
First Down Dash
Corona Chick
Bail Me Out Baby
Corona Czech
BAIL CZECH, ‘16-g.
Letty Bail Regis Out
Artesias Merridoc
198 SPEEDHORSE October 2022
Amber Mendez/Los Alamitos
Coady Photography
Coady Photography