Racing

Home > Racing>Donelli Turns In Sharp Effort In Rich New Mexico State Fair Quarter Horse Futurity

Donelli Turns In Sharp Effort In Rich New Mexico State Fair Quarter Horse Futurity
Donelli, under jockey Alan Hernandez, winning the $386,196 New Mexico State Fair Quarter Horse Futurity on Sunday at The Downs at Albuquerque.

© Coady Photography
Donelli Turns In Sharp Effort In Rich New Mexico State Fair Quarter Horse Futurity

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—SEPTEMBER 22, 2019—MJ Farms’ Donelli, the fastest qualifier and odds-on favorite, won Sunday’s $386,196 New Mexico State Fair Quarter Horse Futurity (RG3) for state-bred 2-year-olds.

Trained by Wes Giles, Donelli went 400 yards in :19.691, and her margin of victory was three-quarters of a length from Apollo Chicks. Alan Hernandez rode the homebred daughter of the Corona Cartel stallion Big Daddy Cartel.

Donelli made her local debut with a dominating 2-¼ -length victory in the second of five trials on September 5. Donelli futurity win boosted her bankroll to $208,898.

MJ Farms accept the New Mexico State Fair Quarter Horse Futurity stakes trophy for Donelli Sunday afternoon at The Downs at Albuquerque. © Coady Photography
“This filly has been a hard trier and honest since the first day we gate-broke her,’ said Giles. “We were hoping she would repeat her performance in her trial today, but since her trial she got a hot foot on her and we were only able to put a shoe on it a few days ago. We were really concerned about that.

“But this filly is really game, and our team has worked hard with her to get her to this spot,” the trainer added.

Donelli’s dam, Tres Of Alice, is a winning homebred 8-year-old daughter of champion Tres Seis and a half-sister to 2015 AQHA champion 3-year-old filly Astica. Donelli’s second dam, the homebred First Down Dash mare Alice K White, was the sport’s champion 3-year-old filly in ’09.

Runner-up Apollo Chicks races for owner/breeder Wallace Johnson. Michael Joiner conditions the Jess A Chicks filly out of Flashing Apollo (TB) by Apollo (TB). Ridden by J.R. Ramirez, Jr., Apollo Chicks banked $77,239 for second.

James Padgett, II saddled Mi Moonflash to her third-place finish for owners Pierre and Leslie Amestoy, Jr. and Rogers Beasley. The homebred daughter of leading sire First Moonflash earned $46,344 to boost her earnings to $61,727. Alonso Rivera was riding.

Finnley, Outta Debt, Crazy Cartel, Easters Regard, Girl With A Plan, Streaks Featured Tf and Daddies Superstar completed the field.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Albuquerque Downs Racetrack and Casino is located in the heart of Albuquerque at Expo New Mexico, the home of the New Mexico State Fair, and general admission and parking are always free (via the casino entrance on Louisiana and Central). For more information, visit abqdowns.com and click on the "Racing" link at the top of the homepage.