Page 118 - NM Summer 2023

SUNLAND PARK
Photos by Coady Photography
New Mexico State University H. (R)
Marking
Bernardini
Seventh Street
Limeade
Summer Bird
Twist A Lime
I THINK I’M HERE
Charles Dunleavy III’s I Think I’m Here unleashed a strong stretch rally to win the March 26, $120,000 New Mexico State University Handicap (R) for state-bred Thoroughbreds at Sunland Park.
Sent to post at odds of 10-1, I Think I’m Here covered his 1-mile & 70-yard trip in 1:42.37 after closing on the early fractions of :23.83, :47.06, and 1:11.80 established by All Chrome. Alfredo Juarez Jr. rode the 4-year-old son of Marking for trainer Lillian Silva.
I Think I’m Here was coming off of an eighth-place finish in the 1 1/16-mile, $100,000 Albert & Henry Dominguez Memorial Handicap (R) on February 28. The chestnut gelding was bred by Chuck Dunleavy and Shawn Davis, and he is one of 41 winners from 65 starters sired by Marking, a Kentucky-bred 13-year-old son of 2006 U.S. champion 3-year-old colt Bernardini.
Racing from 2015-16, Marking banked $426,200 from eight starts, and he ran second in Runhappy’s 2015 Malibu Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park. The stallion has from four crops sired seven official black-type stakes winners and the earners of more than $4.1 million, including Slammed, the winner of the 2022 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (G2) at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky.
Marking is a half-brother to Grade 2 winner Lake Avenue. The stallion stands for a $6,000 fee at Fred and Linda Alexander’s A & A Ranch at Anthony, New Mexico.
I Think I’m Here is also one of three winners from as many starters foaled by Limeade, a winning 11-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter
of 2009 Belmont Stakes (G1) winner and U.S. champion 3-year-old colt Summer Bird. His second dam, Twist A Lime, was a winning and multiple stakes placed daughter of Copelan.
A 1992 foal, Twist A Lime produced Speed Gun, a half-brother to Limeade who won
the 2000 Summer Stakes (G2) at Woodbine Racecourse near Toronto. I Think I’m Here’s third dam, Lively Maid, was a winning daughter of the Maribeau stallion Lord Rebeau.
I Think I’m Here traces back to his fourth dam, Fleeting Maid, a winning Crozier mare who ran second in the 1976 La Centinela Stakes at Santa Anita Park. Fleeting Maid foaled Protect Yourself, a full brother to Lively Maid who won two stakes in 1985, including the Grade 3, $100,000 Longacres Derby.
I Think I’m Here has won four of 13 races, and the $72,000 winner’s share of the purse
from his first lifetime stakes victory increased his bankroll to $192,736. The gelding’s sophomore season record included a second-place finish, 7 3/4 lengths behind winner Corrina Corrina, in the September 4, 1-mile Casino at The Downs Derby (R) at Albuquerque Downs, and a third-place run, a half of a length behind winner Bodie Got Gold, in the October 30, 6-furlong New Mexico Cup Derby Championship (R) at Zia Park.
Jet N G, the 11-10 favorite, finished second, 1 3/4 lengths behind I Think I’m Here. All Chrome, McMercelus, Thunder Dome, Strawberry Whisky, The Last Feat, Izeright and Elliot completed the order of finish.
Jet N G earned $24,000 for his owner, Maurcenia Cross of Fort Sumner, New Mexico. A homebred son of Mr. Trieste, the 8-year-old gelding has won eight of 50 races, including
the 2021 Rocky Gulch New Mexico Cup Championship (R) at Zia Park, and he has banked $472,583.
All Chrome is a homebred 6-year-
old son of Silver Wagon campaigned by Benjamin G. McDonald. All Chrome has won three of 27 outs, and the $12,000 third-place share of the purse brought his earnings to $134,965.
116 New Mexico Horse Breeder