Tempting Star Gazer (#4) holds off Jess Diva (#6) and Hollywoodcrown (#2) to win the $39,600 New Mexico Breeders Stakes (RG3) Friday afternoon at SunRay Park.

© Coady Photography

FARMINGTON, NM—MAY 11, 2018—Tempting Star Gazer was the wire-to-wire upset winner of the feature race on the SunRay Park Friday card, the $39,600 New Mexico Breeders Stakes (RG3). The event featured 3-year-old New Mexico-breds at 400 yards.

Tempting Star Gazer ($38.40), with Adrian Ramos aboard, broke on top and maintained a narrow lead throughout the race, finishing a head in front of Jessa Diva and Hollywood Crown. Final time for the race was 19.553 with a 95 speed index.

The 3-year-old gelding was the second longest shot on the board despite previously qualifying for the Zia Futurity (RG1) and the Mountain Top Futurity (RG3) and finishing third in the New Mexican Spring Futurity (RG2) at Sunland last April.

Tempting Star Gazer is trained by Wes Giles for owners Jill Giles and Jose Espinosa. He was bred by Mike Abraham out of the Runaway Winner mare Most Tempting and is another stakes winner for sire First Moonflash.

The New Mexico Breeders Stakes was the first stakes win for Tempting Star Gazer, but it was his third win in eight lifetime starts. He now has $101,671 in career earnings.

The winning connections of Tempting Star Gazer accept the New Mexico Breeders' Stakes trophy Friday afternoon at SunRay Park. © Coady Photography

Jessa Diva was the second choice in the field; she and Esgar Ramirez trailed the winning duo to the wire. Jessa Diva is trained by Fred Danley and is owned by Bennie Vanecek. The Jesse James Jr filly has two wins in 12 starts, is graded stakes placed, and has earned over $59,000.

Mj Farms bred Jessa Diva out of the Special Leader mare Leading Diva, a multiple stakes winning mare at Remington, Sunland and Manor Downs.

Tempting Star Gazer may have been a surprise for bettors, but the longest shot on the board, Hollywood Crown, was only a neck and a head away from first place. Hollywood Crown and Porfirio Cano put over a length between them and fourth place finisher Cadilac Flash.

Hollywood Crown is a triple play for Fred Danley, who bred, owns and trains the daughter of Heza Motor Scooter. She is out of Hollywood Gone, by Gone Hollywood.

Danley also trained Hollywood Gone, who was bred and owned by Rita Danley. Hollywood Gone earned nearly $400,000 in her 30 starts, including eight wins and multiple stakes victories and placings in the New Mexico circuit. Her daughter is currently two for 10 with over $76,000 in earnings.

Completing the field were Cadilac Flash, Jessies Gone, Flashin Cartel, Osbaldo Blue Diamond, Daddys Copy and A Passion for Flashin. Woodacoodadid was scratched.