Pavel, ridden by Luis Martine, wins the $60,000 New Mexico Classic Quarter Horse Juvenile at Zia Park on Sunday

© Coady Media

HOBBS, NM–NOVEMBER 24, 2024–Race four, the $60,000 New Mexico Classic Quarter Horse Juvenile, was the first of seven stakes races to kick off Champion Day at Zia Park on Sunday. From a field of nine, Pavel went off as the 7-5 morning-line favorite winning the 350-yard stakes with ease over

With qualifying jockey Luis Martinez in the irons, Pavel broke from the nine hole and scored his 1 1/2-length gate-to-wire victory in 17.378 seconds. The son of Czar Cartel MV clocked a 98 speed index and the effort paid $3.00 to win on 1-2 odds.

Track Starr, ridden by Christian Cardenas, crossed the wire in second behind Pavel. Barbie Gray and Jorge Nieto Saenz placed third.

The winning connections of Pavel accept the $60,000 New Mexico Classic Quarter Horse Juvenile trophy at Zia Park on Sunday. © Coady Media

Pavel scored a gate-to-wire victory in his trial heat to the Juvenile returning with the fifth fastest time to the finals.

Today’s victory marked the bay gelding’s sixth career win from eight starts and the $36,000 payday boosted his earning’s to $333,190.

The New Mexico-bred gelding has won a stakes race at three different tracks this season. He won his trial with the fastest qualifying time and the finals to the New Mexican Spring Futurity [G2] at Sunland Park as well as his trial and finals to the New Mexico Breeders Futurity [G3] at Sunray Park.

Mrb Racing, LLC bred Pavel out of the Tempting Dash mare Camelia. Owner-trainer Jorge Luis Sanchez, Jr purchased him for $6,000 in the Ruidoso New Mexico-Bred Sales.

Pavel is a half-brother to G2 placed Azara ($53,977). He is from the female family of Champion Eagle Jazz ($903,649), Grade 2 winner Teller Baja ($464,317) and Grade 3 winner Teller Ima Eagle ($189,313).

Trainer James J. Gonzalez, II saddled runner-up Track Starr for owner Backdoor Thoroughbreds, LLC. The son of Big Daddy Cartel has yet to break his maiden but has lit the board four of six starts and the black type score boosts his earnings to $17m455.

Breeder MJ Farms sold Track Starr for $50,000 in the 2023 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. He is out of Starsmith by Tres Seis.

Third place finisher Barbie Gray has a record of 1-1-1 from six starts and $23,790 in the bank. Owner Francisco Roman Sr purchased the daughter of Big Daddy Cartel from breeder MJ Farms for $14,000 in last year’s Ruidoso New Mexico Bred Yearling Sale. Fernando Rascon trains the gray filly out of Racetrack Barbie by Hidden City.

Beyond Rime, King Seis, Cc Candy Man, Boot Scoots, Bigg Al and Big Fantasy complete the order of finish. Due to technical difficulties, the remaining six stakes races were cancelled on Sunday card for Quarter Horse Champion Day at Zia Park.

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