Rc Jessa Flashn, under jockey Jesse Levario, won the $150,000 New Mexico Classic 870 Championship(RG3) Sunday afternoon at Zia Park.

© Coady Media

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

HOBBS, NM—NOVEMBER 23, 2025—Rc Jessa Flashn proved strongest in the long-distance test on Sunday afternoon, taking command early and never relinquishing the lead to win the $150,000 New Mexico Classic 870 Championship (RG3) at Zia Park.

Running into a 10-mph headwind on a fast track, the 5-year-old New Mexico-bred mare completed the 870-yard distance in 45.361, earning a 92 speed index while finishing 1¼ lengths in front.

The daughter of multiple stakes sire A Passion For Flashn, out of Remember Me Jess by Mr Jess Perry, was bred by RC Racing LLC and races for RC Racing, LLC. Trained by Jorge Morales-Flores and ridden by Jesse Levario, Rc Jessa Flashn picked up his first career stakes win. He earned $89,100 for the victory, increasing his earnings to $368,557.

The winning connections of Rc Jessa Flashn accept the New Mexico Classic 870 Championship stakes trophy at Zia Park. © Coady Media

Mendel, a 3-year-old gray gelding by a leading New Mexico sire Big Daddy Cartel out of Diamondia by Mr Jess Perry, closed willingly through the lane after being bumped at the start to finish second.

Bred by MJ Farms and owned by Rancho El 48 LLC, the Ruidoso New Mexico Bred Yearling Sale graduate—purchased for $160,000 in 2023—is trained by James Gonzales III and was ridden by Eugenio Navarrete, Jr. He crossed the wire 1½ lengths ahead of the third-place finisher and earned $29,700 for his effort.

El Vital, a 7-year-old brown gelding by Mr Special Cartel out of Wdc Vital Sound by Brookstone Bay, rallied from midpack to secure third, finishing a half-length behind Mendel.

The veteran runner who won last year's New Mexico Classic 870 Stakes(RG3), is bred and owned by Hermenegildo Aldavaz, who also conditions the gelding. Oscar Andrade, Jr. was aboard as El Vital collected $14,850 to boost his earnings to $302,839.

Rc Jessa Flashn returned $7.20 to win, $3.40 to place, and $2.20 to show. Mendel paid $3.20 to place and $2.20 to show, while El Vital returned $2.20 to show. The $1 exacta paid $10.50, the 50-cent trifecta returned $8.35, and the 10-cent superfecta paid $3.63.

Following the top three across the finish line were Penner Ash, Why Buy the Cow, Rig Countess, and Sonny Surfer.

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