HOBBS, NM—OCTOBER 27, 2017—A total of 131 New Mexico-bred Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses has been entered in Sunday’s New Mexico Cup races at Zia Park.

Purses for the 12 races -- eight for Thoroughbreds and four for Quarter Horses -- will exceed $2 million, once again making New Mexico Cup day the richest state- or province-bred day of racing in North America.

Of the 131 horses entered 46 are Quarter Horses. Here is a preview of the four Quarter Horse stakes. Post time for the first race is scheduled for 12:10 p.m. (MST).

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RACE 1 -- Post time, 12:10
NEW MEXICO CUP 870 CHAMPIONSHIP (R)
3-year-olds & older
Purse, $140,000-guaranteed -- 870 yards

Tag Yur It, a multiple stake placed 5-year-old son of Roll Hennessy Roll (TB), is one of 10 distance specialists entered in this stakes.

Trained by Lauren Fincher for owner 3L Racing Partners, Tag Yur It is coming off of a second-place finish in an 870-yard, $38,000 open-condition allowance for New Mexico-breds on October 8. During his summer campaign at Ruidoso Downs, the gelding ran third, 1 1/2 lengths behind winner and reigning AQHA champion distance horse Coronas Boy, in the July 30, $50,000 Zia 870 Championship Stakes (R).

Tag Yur It drew post 6 and will be ridden by Alfredo Juarez Jr.

D E Wagons Strawfly, an 8-year-old Genuine Strawfly gelding owned and trained by Tony Sedillo, has won 10 of his 35 starts at the 870 distance, including the 2015 New Mexico Cup 870.

Championship. D E Wagons Strawfly drew post 2 and will be ridden by Tracy Hebert.

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

1. DM Nate Dog (Larry Gamez), 12-1
2. D E Wagons Strawfly (Tracy Hebert), 5-2
3. Machismo Moon (Mauro Salcedo), 6-1
4. Dark Brook (Esgar Ramirez), 3-1
5. Jess Excessive (Jose Enrique Ortiz), 15-1
6. Tag Yur It (Alfredo Juarez Jr.), 7-2
7. Sierra Ladron (Ry Eikleberry), 10-1
8. Storm Chasor (Alejandro Medellin), 6-1

• AE-Oly Oly In Free (Duane Sterling), 20-1
• AE-Super Quintons (Enrique Gomez), 15-1

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RACE 5 -- Post time, 1:59
NAMEHIMASTREAKER NEW MEXICO CUP QH CHAMPIONSHIP (RG1)
3-year-olds & older
Purse, $170,000-guaranteed -- 440 yards

An overflow field of 12 sprinters, including two also-eligible entries, has been entered in this race, named in honor of the multiple graded stakes winning Mitbeastreaker gelding Namehimastreaker.

Carson City Girl, a 4-year-old daughter of Woodbridge and one of four distaffers entered, is coming off of a second-place finish, three-quarters of a length behind winner and reigning AQHA world champion Jessies First Down, in the 440-yard, $250,000 Albuquerque Fall Quarter Horse Championship on September 24. A stakes winner against New Mexico-breds during the Albuquerque meet, the mare drew post 4 and will be ridden by Alfredo Sigala for owners David and Sandra Barrett of Alto, New Mexico, and trainer Fred Danley.

Mikkelson Racing LLC’s Princess Jesse, a homebred 4-year-old Jesse James Jr mare trained by Vance Mikkelson, will be making just her third start of the season. Princess Jesse has won eight of 15 starts, including four stakes, and she has banked $320,615 while competing exclusively in New Mexico.

Princess Jesse drew post 10 and will be ridden by Esgar Ramirez.

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

1. Play Misty Foreme (Jose Luis Enriquez), 9-2
2. JJs Fast Cash RF (Mauro Salcedo), 12-1
3. Major Bites (Jose A. Alvarez), 15-1
4. Carson City Girl (Alfredo Sigala), 3-1
5. You Can Do It Regard (Tanner Thedford) 10-1
6. Get Down Bambi (Manuel Gutierrez), 30-1
7. Running Dragon (Adrian Ramos), 6-1
8. Seeyalateralligator (L. Salvador Martinez), 8-1
9. Tyger Power (G.R. Carter Jr.), 8-1
10. Princess Jesse (Esgar Ramirez), 7-2

• AE-Cinco Menudos (Felipe Garcia-Luna), 10-1
• AE-First Note Medley (Jose Enrique Ortiz), 20-1

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RACE 10 -- Post time, 4:12
NEW MEXICO CUP QUARTER HORSE DERBY (RG2)
3-year-olds
Purse, $210,000 -- 440 yards

Magnifico Dragon, a sorrel son of Zulu Dragon owned by Daniel Balderrama and the fastest qualifier, is the 7-5 morning-line favorite in this race.

Magnifico Dragon has won three of his last four starts, including the first of three New Mexico Cup Derby trials on October 15. An earner of $300,821 from 13 starts, the gelding has won seven races, including last year’s 400-yard, $310,000 New Mexico Cup Futurity (RG2).

Mauro Salcedo will ride Magnifico Dragon from post 6 for trainer Cynthia Gonzalez.

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

1. Mr Klee (L. Salvador Martinez), 8-1
2. Roanoka Fast Cat (Oscar Cordova), 30-1
3. Yudes Jess Dashin (Felipe Garcia-Luna), 12-1
4. Mitey Man (Raul Ramirez Jr.), 12-1
5. La Riena Del Sur (Raul Herrera), 15-1
6. Magnifico Dragon (Mauro Salcedo), 7-5
7. Flash Em The Jewels (Ricky Ramirez), 4-1
8. Kama Strawfly (G.R. Carter Jr.), 20-1
9. Princess Jessie Jane (Jose Luis Enriquez), 10-1
10. Cartels Star Daddy (Tanner Thedford), 5-1

• AE-Altitude Project (Jose Montoya), 15-1
• AE-Running Dragon (Adrian Ramos), 8-1

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RACE 11 -- Post time, 4:34
NEW MEXICO CUP FUTURITY (RG2)
2-year-olds
Purse, $400,000 -- 400 yards

A dozen state-bred 2-year-olds, including a pair of also-eligible entries, have been entered in this stakes, the richest race of the day.

RC Racing LLC’s A Passion For Flashn, the fastest qualifier, is coming off of a one-length win as the 1-5 favorite in the second of seven trials on October 14. Trained by Martin Orona Sr., the First Moonflash colt has earned $53,492 from eight races, and he was a finalist in both the 400-yard, $371,000 Zia Futurity (RG1) and 350-yard, $393,000 Mountain Top Futurity (RG3) at Ruidoso Downs.

A Passion For Flashn drew post 9 and will be ridden by Manuel Gutierrez.

Hollywoodcrown, a homebred daughter of Heza Motor Scooter owned and trained by Fred Danley, drew post 5 and will be ridden by Alfredo Sigala. Hollywoodcrown has won two of eight races and has banked $47,504, and her resume includes a third-place finish, a half of a length behind winner Jess Hot, in the September 23, 400-yard New Mexico State Fair Futurity (RG3) at Albuquerque Downs.

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

1. Siximoons (Ricky Ramirez), 12-1
2. He Be Flashy (G.R. Carter Jr.), 8-1
3. PCJ Thats It (Esgar Ramirez), 20-1
4. Jesse Klee (L. Salvador Martinez), 7-2
5. Hollywoodcrown (Alfredo Sigala), 12-1
6. Daddys Copy (Jose A. Alvarez), 6-1
7. Riverside Flash (Adrian Ramos), 6-1
8. The Flash Force (Raul Ramirez Jr.), 15-1
9. A Passion For Flashn (Manuel Gutierrez), 5-2
10. Big Blue Cartel (Tanner Thedford), 8-1

• AE-Regard The Rose (Manuel Gutierrez), 10-1
• AE-Daddys Leader (Oscar Cordova), 12-1