Flashtoglory, ridden by Christian Ramos, wins the Lou Wooten and Sydney Valentini Stakes by a 1/2-length on Sunday at Sunland Park.

© Coady Media

SUNLAND PARK, NM–JANUARY 19, 2024–Last year's Lou Wooten and Sydney Valentini Stakes finalist Flashtoglory returns to Sunland Park on Sunday to redeem herself with the win in this year's 24th running of the $90,000 finals. The victory marks her third consecutive win and debut run of the season.

The 400-yard race is Flashtoglory's second win in stakes competition. The daughter of champion sire First Moonflash just came off her first stakes victory at Zia Park in December in the New Mexico Classic Filly and Mare Championship Stakes [G1].

Piloted by regular rider Christian Ramos, Flashtoglory bobbled out of the gate but quickly took charge at first call to win by a half-length at the wire. The five-year-old mare clocked a 91-speed index with a slight three mph headwind in 19.447 seconds. The post-time favorite's first-place effort paid $4.20 to win on even odds.

Ez On My Mind, ridden by Omar Iturralde, made a late gain for second a half-length ahead of Chicka Boom Babe and rider Adrian Ramos, who crossed the wire in third.

The winning connections of Flashtoglory accept the $90,000 Lou Wooten and Sydney Valentini Stakes trophy at Sunland Park on Sunday. © Coady Media

The $54,000 winner's share of the purse boosted Flashtoglory's earnings to $360,942. The New Mexico-bred filly has lit the board 17 of 22 starts with a record of 6-7-6. She is no stranger to stakes competition.

Besides her two victories, Flashtoglory also placed second in the NM State Fair Sophomore Stakes and third in the Shue Fly Stakes [G2], Vista Distaff Stakes. She was a finalist in the NM Classic Derby [G2] and NM State Fair Futurity [G2]. Lou Wooten and Sydney Valentini Stakes and Sunburst Stakes.

Her trainer, David Meridyth, also bred and owns Flashtoglory. She is out of the Feature Mr Jess winning mare Jp Glory Be, who is a half-sister to stakes winner Bertha Venation.

Runner-up Ez On My Mind is bred and owned by Jeni and David Ellis in New Mexico. The eight-year-old mare has five wins from 25 starts with $190,984 in the bank. Luis Daniel Iturralde trained the daughter of Genuine Strawfly. The multiple stakes-placed mare is out of Shirleys Honor (TB) by Olympio.

Trainer Wes Giles saddled third-place finisher Chicka Boom Babe for owners Rober Driggers and Ben Lee Ivey. The four-year-old daughter of Chicks Regard has a record of 5-4-2 from 18 starts with $263,867 in earnings. Ivey Cattle Co. bred the Grade 2 winner in New Mexico out of Riverside Babe by First Moonflash.

Miss Baby Cartel, Hs Golden Eagle, Rc Jessa Flashn, Over Da Edge, Maka Roon, Jess Emotions and First Flashin complete the order of finish.

Live racing at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino resumes on Thursday with a first post time of 12:25 p.m. (MST).

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