SUNLAND PARK, NM—APRIL 6, 2017— Flash Moonfire, a gelded son of champion First Moonflash owned by David G. Valdez, is the 3-1 morning-line choice for Saturday’s 300-yard, $362,965 New Mexican Spring Futurity (RG2) at Sunland Park.

The fastest qualifier, Flash Moonfire made his debut with a clear 2 1/2-length victory in the sixth of nine trials on March 17. Valdez, a resident of Odessa, Texas, acquired the gelding for $27,000 at last year’s Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale.

Flash Moonfire is the first foal produced by Required Fire, a stakes-winning daughter of Walk Thru Fire. The gelding drew post 9 and will be ridden by Manuel Gutierrez for trainer Felipe Flores Jr.

The AQHA champion aged stallion in 2009, First Moonflash will also be represented by Miles Of Flash, a gelding trained by Fred Danley for owners David and Sandra Barrett and J & SM Inc. Miles Of Flash was a prompt 3-2 favorite in the fifth New Mexican Spring Futurity trial.

Miles Of Flash is out of Laila Si, a winning daughter of Walk Thru Fire and a full sister to stakes winner Whatta Knockout, and he was purchased for $6,500 at last year’s Ruidoso Select Sale. He drew post 3 and will be ridden by reigning AQHA champion jockey Esgar Ramirez.

Other contenders include Enrique Barrera’s Moneys A Maker, a gray son of Sixes Royal and the only finalist with more than one previous out. An earner of $9,938 from two starts, the gelding was purchased for $4,000 at last year’s New Mexico-Bred Yearling Sale at Ruidoso Downs.

Moneys A Maker drew the rail post and will be ridden by Mauro Salcedo for trainer Cynthia Gonzalez.

The complete lineup, in post-position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:

1. Moneys A Maker (Mauro Salcedo), 8-1
2. Bigg Daddy (Adrian Ramos), 15-1
3. Miles Of Flash (Esgar Ramirez), 4-1
4. Jans Cartel (Martin Felix), 6-1
5. Flashin Angel (Jaime Parga Leos), 15-1
6. Tempting Star Gazer (Cipriano Vidana), 10-1
7. Two Wines (Salvador Martinez), 5-1
8. Cadilac Flash (Sergio Becerra Jr.), 6-1
9. Flash Moonfire (Manuel Gutierrez), 3-1
10. Wood Be Kuhi (Alejandro Medellin), 10-1

All Sunland Park races can be seen at Q-RacingVideo.com.