Jess A Satin Flash (#6), under jockey Alejandro Medellin, defeating Daddys Wine (#2) and Marcus Medallion (#5) in the $i75,000 First Moonflash Maturity at The Downs at Albuquerque.

© Coady Photography

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – SEPTEMBER 6, 2020 - In the feature Quarter Horse stakes of the day at Albuquerque, Jess a Satin Flash pulled a mild upset to win the $75,000 First Moonflash Stakes.

The First Moonflash is a 440-yard maturity for 4-year-old and up New Mexico-breds. The final time for the race was 21.282 for a 98 speed index.

Alejandro Medellin rode Jess a Satin Flash ($14.40) in a gate-to-wire victory by a neck over Daddys Wine. The 7-year-old gelding is trained by Rene Saucedo for owner Bertha Irigoyen.

Sunday’s race was the second consecutive stakes win for Jess a Satin Flash, who also won the Zia Handicap (RG2) in July. His stakes career only began last fall, but includes third-place finishes in the Namehimastreaker New Mexico Championship Stakes (RG1) and the Jess Burner Memorial (RG1). In his career to date, he has 10 wins from 39 starts and $229,572 in earnings.

The winning connections of Jess A Satin Flash accept the First Moonflash Maturity stakes trophy Sunday at The Downs at Albuquerque. © Coady Photography

Jess a Satin Flash was bred by Mike Abraham, by First Moonflash and out of Jess Satin, by Mr Jess Perry.

Daddys Wine chased the winner throughout to finish in second place with Mauro Salcedo up for trainer Martin Orona Sr. Daddys Wine is owned by El Paraiso Racing Stables, LLC and was bred by Mj Farms. The 4-year-old son of Big Daddy Cartel is out of the First Down Dash mare Fine Wines.

Daddys Wine was third in the Zia Handicap (RG2) at Ruidoso this summer in his most recent start and was third in the By By JJ Stakes in 2018. He has earned $85,163 in his 23 career efforts, including three wins.

In third place was the defending champion of the First Moonflash Maturity, Marcus Medallion, with Manny Gutierrez aboard. The 7-year-old multiple stakes winner made his first start since February, when he was third in the Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap (RG2) at Sunland.

Marcus Medallion is owned and trained by Jaime Aldavaz, Sr. He was bred by Carl Bailey, by Jesse James Jr and out of Houstons Medallion, by Mr Houston.

Marcus Medallion is six for 23 lifetime with $290,281 in career earnings. In addition to the First Moonflash, he won the Zia Handicap (RG2) at Ruidoso and the Dona Ana County Handicap at Sunland in 2019.

Completing the field were Cd Mamas Boy, Rime Chimes, Zendayas Cartel, Freedom Flash, Hs Paul Walker and Woodys Copy Cat. Siximoons, Rj Special Chick (AE) and Big Spurs (AE) were scratched.