Racing


Daddys Blushing Takes RG3 Mountain Top Futurity at Ruidoso Downs
Daddys Blushing, under jockey Francisco Calderon, winning the $392,586 Mountain Top Futurity(RG3) at Ruidoso Downs on Saturday afternoon.

© Gay Harris / Ruidoso Downs
Daddys Blushing Takes RG3 Mountain Top Futurity at Ruidoso Downs

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—JUNE 17, 2017—Gary Hartstack’s Daddys Blushing pushed his undefeated record to four wins from as many starts with a win over New Mexico-breds in the $392,586 Mountain Top Futurity(RG3) at Ruidoso Downs on Saturday afternoon.

Also on the 10-race program were three trials to the $48,510 Adequan Ruidoso Downs Derby Challenge (see related story).

Daddys Blushing started alertly from the third position and had a clear path. Jockey Francisco Calderon let the gelded son of second crop sire Big Daddy Cartel hustle to the lead and they were never seriously threatened on their way to the one-half length win in :19.423 for the 400 yards.

David Valdez’s Flash Moonfire, the fastest qualifier, was second by one-half length over Bigg Daddy.

Trainer Jackie Riddle has a promising two-year-old in Daddys Blushing with options this summer at Ruidoso Downs. The $14,000 Ruidoso yearling sale purchase could continue to face New Mexico-bred two-year-olds in the trials to the $400,000 (est.) Zia Futurity on July 15 or he could take on open juveniles in the trials to the Grade 1, $1-million (est.) Rainbow Futurity on July 7.

Daddys Blushing has already shown he can handle open horses. He won his trial to the Sam Houston Futurity in his first start and returned to battle to a win in the $48,000 Sam Houston Juvenile. He then came to Ruidoso Downs and scored a one-and-one-half length win in his Mountain Top Futurity Challenge Derby trial.

Bred by MJ Farms, from the Blushing Bug mare Sandy June Bug.

Flash Moonfire put in a solid finish under jockey Oscar Cordova. Trainer Juan Esquivel conditions the son of champion sire Flash Moonfire for owner David Valdez. The $27,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale graduate was bred by Mike Abraham from the Walk Thru Fire mare Required Fire.

The $70,660 runner-up pay day boosted his earnings total to $103,809.

Bigg Daddy, also an MJ Farms bred 2-year-old, races for owner Too For Two. Wes Giles saddled the Big Daddy Cartel gelding from the champion First Down Dash mare Alice K White.

Ridden by Adrian Ramos, Bigg Daddy pocketed $39,225 for the effort to bring his total to $50,873. He sold for $25,000 at last year's Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale.

A Passion For Flashn, Frankie James, Tempting Star Gazer, Flash Tres, Franngelico, Jessa Diva and Mr Flash The Moolah completed the field.

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