Racing


Sharp Effort Propels Running Dragon To Victory in New Mexico Fillies and Mares Championship
Running Dragon, under jockey Adrian Ramos, winning the $140,000 New Mexico Fillies and Mares Championship(RG1) Wednesday afternoon at Zia Park.

© Coady Photography
Sharp Effort Propels Running Dragon To Victory in New Mexico Fillies and Mares Championship

HOBBS, NM—NOVEMBER 22, 2017—A sharp effort multiple graded winner by Running Dragon put the filly a neck in front of Princess Jessie Jane n the $140,000 restricted Grade 1 New Mexico Fillies and Mares Championship Wednesday afternoon at Zia Park. First Vegas Moon finished one-length back in third.

Ridden by jockey Adrian Ramos, Running Dragon completed the 400 yards in :19.755 seconds, a 90 speed index into a 3 mph headwind.

The winning connections of Running Dragon accept the
New Mexico Fillies and Mares Championship stakes trophy Wednesday at Zia Park. © Coady Photography
Trainer Juan Gonzalez saddled the daughter of leading second-crop sire Zulu Dragon for owner/breeders By By JJ, LLC. It was the gray filly's 11th career win in 17 starts. The $84,000 winners' purse boosted her earnings total to $695,842.

Out of the Devon Lane(TB) mare Banking Lane, the 3-year-old filly kicked her career off last year with five consecutive wins including the New Mexican Spring Futurity(RG2) and the Mountain Top Futurity(RG3). She began this season with a three-race win streak that included RG1 Shue Fly Stakes at Sunland Park. Coming off a second-place effort in the New Mexico Classic Derby on October 29th, Princess Jessie Jane picked up $30,800 for her second-place effort into today's distaff championship.

Jose Luis Muela saddled the Jesses James Jr daughter for owner Daniel Nunez. Jose Enriquez rode the New Mexico-bred filly out of A Scootin Princess by Heza Motor Scooter. Bred by J.H. and A.D. Erickson, Princess Jessie James has banked $210,383 in two seasons at the track.

Third-place finisher First Vegas Moon races for owner RC Racing LLC and trainer Martin Orona, Sr. Manuel Gutierrez rode the First Moonflash filly out of Bestseatintown by Flashin High. Bred by Ramon Gonzalez, Jr., First Vegas Moon earned $14,000 for the effort.

Sixie Won, Straw Fly Flower, Princess Jesse, Get Down Bambi, Carson City Girl, Lady Version and Eyesawagon completed the field.