FARMINGTON, NM— MAY 12, 2012—Making his first-ever start at SunRay Park, two-time AQHA champion Noconi sprinted to a neck victory in Saturday's Grade 3, $50,000 La Plata Stakes for Quarter Horses.

Noconi covered his 400-yard trip in :19.561 under jockey Esgar Ramirez. Paul Jones trains the homebred 7-year-old gelding by Mr Jess Perry for owners R.D. Hubbard and J Bar 7 Ranch LLC.

Noconi was bred in Oklahoma. The gelding's sire, Mr Jess Perry, was the AQHA champion 2-year-old in 1994, and his top runners include 2010 world champion Apollitical Jess, '08 champion sophomore colt One Famous Eagle, and 2010 All American Futurity (G1) winner Mr Piloto. The stallion is owned by a partnership, and he stands at 6666 Ranch at Guthrie, Texas.

Noconi's dam, the Dash For Cash mare My Dashing Lady, won the 1999 Rainbow Derby (G1) at Ruidoso Downs.

The La Plata Stakes marked Noconi's first out since February 19, when he ran third, one length behind winner El Aguila Real, in the 400-yard, $226,050 Los Alamitos Winter Championship (G1) in California. All told, the gelding has won 15 of 33 races – including 12 stakes – and he was the AQHA champion 3-year-old gelding in 2008 and champion aged gelding two years later.

The $30,000 winner's share of the La Plata purse increased Noconi's earnings to $1,335,959. Sent to post as the 4-5 favorite, he returned a $3.60 win mutuel and teamed with runner-up Unashamed for a $2 exacta payoff of $34. Rare Walker finished third, a neck behind Noconi, to complete a $231.40 ($2) trifecta.

Unashamed is a 4-year-old stallion by Special Leader campaigned by Melvin and Mary Neugebauer of Manzanola, Colorado. Unashamed has banked $108,535 from 13 races, and his four wins include last year's 400-yard, $106,640 Mile High Derby (G3) at Arapahoe Park near Denver.

A 5-year-old Walk Thru Fire gelding racing for Erasmo Hernandez, Rare Walker was coming off of a third-place finish in a 350-yard, $40,000 open allowance sprint at Sunland Park on April 15. Rare Walker has won five of 18 races and has earned $92,702, and his stakes resume includes a second-place finish to A Spring Snow in last year's $30,000 O.B. Cockerell Handicap (G3) at The Downs at Albuquerque.

A Spring Snow, Watch Out Bambino, Quik Brew, Buildemhigh, Rock That Wagon, and Zoomin Express completed the order of finish.

Editors note: A photo of this race will be posted when it becomes available from the track photographer.