ALBUQUERQUE, NM—AUGUST 24, 2014—Competing in this stakes for the seventh consecutive season, Miracle Snow was a prompt 3-2 favorite in Sunday’s 400-yard, $63,500 Lineage Quarter Horse Championship (RG3), one of four New Mexico-bred Quarter Horse stakes contested at The Downs at Albuquerque.

Miracle Snow, a homebred 10-year-old gelding by champion Dean Miracle racing for Melvin Neugebauer of Manzanola, Colorado, covered his 400-yard trip in :19.353, and his margin of victory was a neck from Jess Got Issues. J. Martin Bourdieu rode Miracle Snow for trainer Jill Giles.

Miracle Snow was coming off of a head victory in the 400-yard, $50,000 Zia Quarter Horse Championship (RG2) at Ruidoso Downs. All told, the gelding has won 17 of 57 starts, and the $38,100 share of the Lineage Championship purse pushed his bankroll to $718,211.

Miracle Snow has won seven stakes, including the 2010 and ’12 editions of the Lineage Championship. He scored his first stakes victory, the $62,745 Hard Twist Stakes (RG3) at Albuquerque, way back in 2007.

Jess Got Issues, a Jesse James Jr 4-year-old racing for owner Debra and Joseph Meridyth, Jr., earned $13,325 for his second place effort. Guadalupe Munoz, Jr. conditions the gelding out of Yo Mamma Got Issues, by Chicks A Blazin. Jamie Leos was aboard the Kathleen Sellers bred runner.

You Sexy Fame finished half-a-length back in third for owner Olivas Racing. Also trained by Munoz, the Dash Ta Fame gelding is out of Saloma, by Bully Bullion. Joe Rios is the breeder and Manuel Gutierrez had the riding assignment. He earned $6,350.

My Big Chief, Rex Hill, Osbaldo, Cinco Menudos, Klassic Strawfly, Outlaw Ducky and Jess Rueben James completed the field.

Pelican Stakes(RG3)

Earlier on the card, Giles won the 400-yard, $60,000 Pelican Stakes (RG3) for New Mexico-bred 3-year-old fillies with Penny Snatchin. A homebred daughter of Gone To The Mountain who she also bred and owns, Penny Snatchin defeated Sparkling Heart by three-quarters of a length and earned $33,000 to increased her earnings to $108,858 from 12 starts.

Ridden by Jorge Bourdieu, the bay miss finished the 400 yard course in :19.526 seconds, a 94 speed index.

Sparkling Heart races for owner Santos Dominguez and is trained by Umberto Belloc. The First Moonflash filly is out of Heart Sparks, by Ronas Ryon. Bred by Lorraine Esquibel Estate and ridden by Jose Enriuez, the black filly picked up $15,000 for her effort.

Aj Hardwood, a Hard Hitting daughter owned-and-bred by John and Anna Romero, finished a neck back in the show position. Fernando Carrete trains with Tanner Thedford riding. Out of the Woodbridge daughter Lady Woodbridge, Aj Hardwood earned $6,000.

Completing the field were My Memory Lane, One Lethal Blaze (3-1 favorite), Express In, Mess Can, Swissle On, Miss Tessmocker and White Wine Glass.

First Moonflash Stakes(RG3)

Sc Dustychampion got up at the wire to garner his first career stakes win Sunday in the $60,000 First Moonflash Stakes(RG3) at The Downs. The Chicks A Blazin gelding caught Jet Version by a neck at the wire. Kia Won finished half-a-length behind in third.

Tony Gallegos conditions Sc Dustychampion for owner Pedro Carillo. Ridden by jockey Jimmy Coates, he completed the course in :19.529 seconds, a 94 speed index, to take the $33,000 winner's check. Sepulveda Corporation bred the gray from the One Fine Leader mare Sf Finita Dash.

Jet Version, by Latest Version, races for owner Luis Lujan and trainer Ramon Alvarez. Larry Gamez had the ridding assignment aboard the Kirk Natzke-bred out of Jets Magic Doll, by Magic Dozen. The gelding earned $15,000 for his effort.

Kia Won closed fast to finish third for owner Nahum Preto and Joe Rios. Gene Burden saddled the Ketel Won gelding with Sergio Becerra, Jr. riding. Mr. and Mrs. R.C. Jones bred the gray from the Major Rime mare Major Kia. He picked up $6,000.

Sandia Fria, King Of Pop, First Full Pocket, Wager On Moonflash, Heza Wild Dragon (3-2 favorite), Guess Who Drew, and Jess Sandy Jr Completed the field.

Lobo Championship(R)

The royally-bred Storm Chasor got his first career stakes win when held off Super Quintons by a neck to win the $60,000 Lobo Championship Stakes. Beau Wizer finished 1¼ behind the leaders for third.

Under jockey Dusty Shepherd, Storm Chasor paced well over the 870 yards to finish in :44.754 seconds, a 98 speed index. The $33,000 winner's purse swelled the graded stakes-placed earners bankroll to more than $138,000.

A home bred by Grade 3 winner Attila's Storm (TB) from the champion producing Dash For Cash mare Stardust Dash, the brown gelding races for Joan Dale Hubbard. Todd Fincher is the conditioner. Storm Chasor has won or placed 12 of 18 career starts.

Lillian Silva saddled Super Quintons for owner Jose Contreras. Andrea Castellanos bred the Quinton's Gold (TB) 5-year-old from the Roll The Cash mare Ss Rigamaroll. Ridden by Esagar Ramirez, Super Quintons earned $15,000 for the effort.

Beau Wizer is a 9-year-old Thoroughbred son of Premeditation out of Miss Einstein, by Beau Genius. Weston Martin trains the multiple stakes winner of nearly $330,000 for McM Racing LLC. Mike and Suzanne Carson is the breeder and Casey Lambert had the ride on the even-money favorite.

Completing the field were El Gato Azul, Vicente Y Su Corona, KC Royal Flush, D E Wagons Strawfly and Thunder Stric Again.

Lineage Quarter Horse Claiming Stakes

Under a strong rally from jockey Esgar Ramirez, Think Rich Brook was an easy 1½ length winner over Easily A Gent in the $15,000 Lineage Quarter Horse Claiming Stakes at The Downs Sunday afternoon. Seacrest Out finished a neck back in the show position. Guadalupe Munoz, Jr. saddled Think Rich Brook to his third win in 11 starts for owner Olivas Racing. The Brookstone Bay 4-year-old completed the 400 yards in :19.579 seconds, a 93 speed index. The $9,000 winner's purse boosted his earnings to over $26,700. Mary Lou Standefer bred the sorrel from the Straight Talker mare Straight Talkin Mama.

Easily A Gent races for owner Gary Thompson and trainer Victor Escobar. The late Rita Danley bred the Jacksboro gelding from the Dooley Authorized mare Easily Authorized. Ridden by Albert Medrano, he earned $3,000.

Elliot Bachicha saddled Seacrest Out for owner Marcellino Ortiz. Elliot Bachicha, Jr. rode the Genuine Strawfly 10-year-old out of De Candi Kas, by Super Duper Couper. Bred by Fredda Draper and Lola Willis, Seacrest Out earned $1,500 for the effort.

Sunny Situation, Posies K Won, Future Coronita, Whatsthislifefor, Devons Secret Rf and Lady Of Fury completed the field.