Racing


Ryansmanonthemoon Bounces Back In $100,000 Dona Ana County Handicap
Rynasmanonthemoon, under jockey Mauro Salcedo, winning the $100,000 Dona Ana County Handicap on Saturday at Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino.

© Coady Photography
Ryansmanonthemoon Bounces Back In $100,000 Dona Ana County Handicap

SUNLAND PARK, NM—JANUARY 25, 2020—Coming off a sixth-place troubled effort in the Grade 1 Championship at Sunland Park on December 29, Ryansmanonthemoon rolled to a 1- ½ length winning effort over Marcus Medallion as the post-time favorite in Saturday's $100,000 Dona Ana County Handicap at Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino.

Under jockey Mauro Salcedo, Ryansmanonthemoon broke on top then drew away to complete the 440 yards in :20.963 seconds, a 105 speed index with a 9 mph tailwind. It was the eighth career win for the son of leading sire First Moonflash. The $60,000 Dona Ana winners' purse boosted his lifetime mark to $410,981.

Cynthia Gonzalez trains the New Mexico home-bred for owner-breeders Jimmy Negrete and Jimmy Vasquez. Out of the Man On The Move mare Girlonthego, Ryansmanonthemoon has compiled a (18) 8-3-0 record. He has seven of his last 10 starts, including the Zia Park QH Championship(G1), NMHBA Stakes(RG2) and Shue Fly Stakes(RG3).

The winning connections of Ryansmanonthemoon accept the Dona Ana County Handicap stakes trophy at Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino . © Coady Photography
Owned-and-trained by Jamie G. Aldavaz, Sr., Marcus Medallion earned $20,000 for finishing second in the Dona Ana. Adrian Ramos rode the 7-year-old son of leading New Mexico sire Jesse James Jr. The sorrel gelding was the defending Dona Ana County Handicap winner after winning the 2019 race. Bred by Carl Jason Bailey, from the Mr Houston mare Houstons Medallion, Marcus Medallion has earned $270,718.

Pierre and Leslie Amestoy, Jr. and Roger Beasley's homebred Freedom Flash finished half-a-length back in third to earn $10,000. The graded stakes winning gelding by leading sire First Moonflash is out of the thoroughbred mare Mi Camila by Southern Halo. Alonso Rivera had the riding call aboard the $185,957 earner for trainer James Padgett, II.

Jess A Satin Finish, Magnifico Dragon, Siximoons, Chicks Baby Suds, Faster Version and Rime Chimes completed the field.

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Live racing at Sunland Park takes place on a Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday basis through Tuesday, April 21, 2020. Post time to start the season is 12:25 p.m. Nine races will be carded on weekdays. Ten races will be presented on Saturdays and Sundays.