Challenge


Fire On The Fly Wins $53,640 Red Cell New Mexico Distance Challenge
Fire On The Fly, under jockey Larry Gamez, rolls to an impressive victory in the Grade 3 Red Celle New Mexico Distance Challenge on Sunday.

© Coady Photography
Fire On The Fly Wins $53,640 Red Cell New Mexico Distance Challenge

SUNLAND PARK, NM—MARCH 30, 2014—Sparked by a tremendous start, Fire On The Fly raced away to post a visually impressive 2 and ¼ length victory in the 15th running of the $53,640 Red Cell New Mexico Distance Challenge(G3) at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino.

Under jockey Larry Gamez, the 870 yard loving Quarter Horse flew from the gates and took a daylight advantage over 1-2 favorite Storm Chasor rounding the turn for home. Fire On The Fly came rolling into the stretch with an abundance of energy, and the son of Jet Cartel delivered a tour de force performance.

The Wes Giles trainee pulled further in front and won with speed to spare. The winning time was 44.489 seconds, good for 101 speed index. Fire On The Fly paid $9.00 as the 7-2 second choice.

The winning connections of Fly On The Fly following his win in Sunday's Red Cell New Mexico Distance Challenge at Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino.
© Coady Photography
The sensational four-year-old Texas-bred gelding has won four of his last five races. The newly crowned stakes winner earned $32,184 for the Bullard Farms of Weatherford, Texas. He has won 6 times from 15 starts.

Sunday's victory also earned him a starting spot in the $100,000 Red Cell Distance Challenge Championship(G1) to be held on Bank of America Challenge Championship Night at Prairie Meadows October 19.

Storm Chasor ran a strong race and was bet down to the odds on choice. The well-bred son of Attila's Storm (TB) tried hard chasing the winner throughout. The imposing New Mexico-bred could not cut into the deficit and held to settle for second with jockey Esgar Ramirez in the saddle. He earned $11,800 to boost his career total to $94,373.

Owned-and-bred by Joan Dale Hubbard, the Paul Jones trainee was coming off two mighty wins going 870 yards with a combined win margin of nearly 14 lengths. He is out of the Dash For Cash mare Stardust Dash. Storm Chasor finished over 5 lengths in front of Valentino de Lao who edged out Captain Wallace for third.

Valentino de Lao is a 6-year-old Apollo (TB) gelding owned by Tony Carnes and trained by Willie Padilla. Ridden by Alejandro Medellin, the sorrel earned $5,364 for the effort. Don and Allysn Apodaca bred Valentino de Lao in Texas from the Jj Shot Glass mare Jjs First Feature.

Completing the field were Captain Wallace, Whiteface Eagle, Jw A Royal Flirt, Msg Mite B Streakin and Gg Streakin South.

Live racing resumes on Tuesday at 12:55 p.m. There are only 2 more race weekends left to the 2013-14 racing season which culminates on Tuesday, April 15.