Fastest qualifier Mr Tres Effort is the morning-line favorite in the $350,730 New Mexico Cup Quarter Horse Futurity (RG2).

© Coady Photography

HOBBS, NM—OCTOBER 28, 2022–Twelve stakes restricted to New Mexico-breds — eight for Thoroughbreds and four for Quarter Horses — will be run on New Mexico Cup Sunday at Zia Park.

Purses totaling $1,816,445 will be paid, of which $1 million will be distributed to Thoroughbreds and $816,445 will be doled out to Quarter Horses.

Post time for the first race is set for 12 p.m. (MDT). Following is a preview of all 12 races, listed in the order they will be run. All post times listed are estimated.

NEW MEXICO CUP 870 CHAMPIONSHIP (R)
(Post time, 12 p.m.)
Purse, $125,000 — 870 yards
3-year-olds & older
Mario A. Ortega’s Moonflash Cat is one of 10 state-bred distance specialists entered in Sunday’s New Mexico Cup 870 Championship (R).

A 6-year-old son of champion First Moonflash trained by Sherry Armstrong, Moonflash Cat has earned $16,935 from two outs this season. However, the brown gelding ended his 2021 season with a 1 3/4-length victory in last year’s New Mexico Cup 870 Championship.

Moonflash Cat drew post 2 and will be ridden by Christian Ramos.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:

1. Why Buy The Cow (Ken Tohill), 8-1
2. Moonflash Cat (Christian Ramos), 5-2
3. Noreason Fordiamonds (Edgar Martinez), 12-1
4. Rosies Bold (Jose M. Vazquez), 10-1
5. Mr Big (Angel Marquez), 20-1
6. Cartels Joker (Francisco Amparan), 8-1
7. Roll Big River (Noe Garcia Jr.), 7-2
8. Freedom Flash (Alfredo Sigala), 2-1
9. AE-Bigg Jack (Paul Nieto), 12-1
10. AE-Moon Gunner (Carlos Guillen Chacon), 12-1

NAMEHIMASTREAKER NEW MEXICO CUP QUARTER HORSE CHAMPIONSHIP (RG1)
(Post time, 12:27)
Purse, $125,000 — 440 yards
3-year-olds & older
Rex Wells’ Bigg Dee, a multiple graded stakes winning 4-year-old Big Daddy Cartel gelding, is the morning-line favorite for Sunday’s 440-yard, $125,000 Namehimastreaker New Mexico Cup Championship (RG1).

Bigg Dee has banked $130,750 from six races this season, and his record includes a half-length victory in the 350-yard, $100,000 Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap (RG2) at Sunland Park, and a 1 3/4-length victory in the 400-yard, $50,000 Zia Stakes (RG2) at Ruidoso Downs. A $30,000 yearling purchase by Wells at the 2019 New Mexico-Bred Sale at Ruidoso Downs, the gelding has won 10 of 21 starts and has earned $477,904, but he will be seeking his first win at the classic quarter-mile distance on Sunday.

Bigg Dee drew post 7 and will be ridden by Mario Delgado for trainer James Gonzales III.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:

1. HS Paul Walker (Jacob Enriquez), 5-1
2. No Mires A La Luna (Noe Garcia Jr.), 6-1
3. Don Chuy C (Luis A. Flores-Garcia), 10-1
4. Dragon On Ice (Paul Nieto), 20-1
5. Man Of Faith (Alfredo Sigala), 15-1
6. Spiritonthemountain (Francisco Cuellar), 12-1
7. Bigg Dee (Mario Delgado), 5-2
8. Diezs Daylight (Adrian Ramos), 10-1
9. HS Hawk (Gerardo Vera), 10-1
10. Fly On Down (Sergio Becerra Jr.), 7-2
11. AE-J R Bordeaux (Jacob Enriquez), 12-1
12. AE-Borderan (Alfredo Sigala), 15-1

NEW MEXICO CUP QUARTER HORSE DERBY (RG2)
(Post time, 12:54)
Purse, $215,715 — 400 yards
3-year-olds
Classy Moon, a homebred son of First Moonflash racing for Bob and Sissie McClure and the fastest qualifier, heads a field of 11 state-bred sophomores entered in Sunday’s 400-yard, $215,715 New Mexico Cup Quarter Horse Derby (RG2).

Classy Moon is coming off of a one-length victory in the second of three trials on October 9. An earner of $70,589 from nine starts this year, the bay gelding is trained by Fred Danley.

Classy Moon drew post 2 and will be ridden by Noe Garcia Jr. Other contenders include JC New Dawn, a graded stakes placed Woodbridge gelding trained by Edgar Moreno for owners Telma Meraz and Federico Gonzalez. The third-fastest qualifier, JC New Dawn was coming off of a second-place finish, a neck behind winner River Flash, in the 400-yard, $288,000 New Mexico State Fair Derby (R) at Albuquerque Downs on September 25.

JC New Dawn drew post 3 and will be ridden by Christian Ramos.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:

1. Run Time (Cordarelton Benn), 10-1
2. Classy Moon (Noe Garcia Jr.), 9-5
3. JC New Dawn (Christian Ramos), 7-2
4. Z Ya (Adrian Ramos), 15-1
5. Passeanna (Jacob Enriquez), 20-1
6. Chicksbabycartel (F.R. Ramirez Jr.), 20-1
7. Cowboy Zulu (Sergio Becerra Jr.), 8-1
8. Daddys Mony (Luis A. Flores-Garcia), 10-1
9. Wine Dont Lie (Francisco Calderon), 4-1
10. Hunky Mcgoo (Federico Martinez), 20-1
11. AE-FS Power Maxx (Emilio Tapia), 30-1

NEW MEXICO CUP QUARTER HORSE FUTURITY (RG2)
(Post time, 1:21)
Purse, $350,730 — 350 yards
2-year-olds
The New Mexico Cup Quarter Horse stakes action concludes with the day’s richest race, the 350-yard, $350,730 New Mexico Cup Quarter Horse Futurity (RG2).

Fastest qualifier Mr Tres Effort is the morning-line favorite off of his 1 1/4-length win in the sixth of eight trials on October 8. The three-quarter length winner of the September 25, $100,000 New Mexico State Fair Juvenile Stakes (R) at Albuquerque Downs, the homebred TF Featured Effort gelding is trained by Eric Valenzuela for owner Carlos F. Paez.

Mr Tres Effort drew post 2 and will be ridden by Luis A. Flores-Garcia.

The complete lineup, in post position order inlcuding jockey assignments and morning-line odds:

1. Moon Jumpn Jessica (Adrian Ramos), 30-1
2. Mr Tres Effort (Luis A. Flores-Garcia), 8-5
3. Elisas Esperance (Francisco Calderon), 9-2
4. RC Jessa Flashn (Emilio Tapia), 10-1
5. Flash Divine (Noe Garcia Jr.), 4-1
6. Would Be You (Christian Ramos), 15-1
7. Flecha Gris (Jacob Enriquez), 10-1
8. Ima Alertly (Sergio Dominguez), 30-1
9. First Lady On Canvas (Esgar Ramirez), 6-1
10. Flash Me The Price (Gerardo Vera), 15-1
11. AE-Dontmesswiththelady (Ricky Ramirez), 15-1

NEW MEXICO CUP OAKS CHAMPIONSHIP (R)
(Post time, 1:48)
Purse, $125,000 — 6 furlongs
3-year-old fillies
The Thoroughbred stakes action gets underway with the 6-furlong, $125,000 New Mexico Cup Oaks Championship (R).

The 2-5 morning-line favorite, Bella Dona sports an eight-race win streak, all against state-bred stakes company. Trained by Simon Buechler for owners Robert M. Driggers, Del Rae Driggers, and Ben Lee Ivey, the homebred Attila’s Storm filly has won 11 of 12 races and has earned $675,068, and her nine lifetime stakes wins include a 5 1/4-length victory in last year’s 6-furlong, $100,000 New Mexico Cup Lassie Championship (R).

Bella Dona drew post 4 and will be ridden by Luis Fuentes.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:

1. Soundofme Notcalln (Jose M. Vazquez), 30-1
2. Miss Ability (Luis R. Rodriguez), 20-1
3. Charlies Hurricane (Luis H. Rodriguez), 6-1
4. Bella Dona (Luis Fuentes), 2-5
5. Desert Spirit (Alfredo Juarez Jr.), 4-1
6. Right For You (Joree Scriver), 8-1

PEPPERS PRIDE NEW MEXICO CUP DISTAFF CHAMPIONSHIP (R)
(Post time, 2:15)
Purse, $125,000 — 1 mile
Fillies & mares, 3-year-olds & older
Corrina Corrina and Flaxy Lady, both stakes winners at the 8-furlong distance, headline Sunday’s 1-mile, $125,000 Peppers Pride New Mexico Cup Distaff Championship (R).

A homebred 3-year-old daughter of Mr. Trieste trained by Gary Cross for owner Derrick W. Jenkins, Corrina Corrina is coming off of an Albuquerque Downs meet during which she scored a clear 7 3/4-length victory in the 1-mile, $100,000 Casino at The Downs Derby (R) for New Mexico-bred 3-year-olds on September 4. The filly drew the rail post and will be ridden by Joree Scriver.

Flaxy Lady is trained by Andres Gonzalez for owners Amanda Sweeten and Heber Deyta Melendez, who claimed the 7-year-old Firejack mare for $7,500 at Zia Park on October 25, 2021. Flaxy Lady has banked $84,048 from seven races this season, and her lone win was a two-length victory in the March 6, 1-mile Peppers Pride Handicap (R) at Sunland Park.

Flaxy Lady drew post 7 and will be ridden by Alejandro Medellin.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:

1. Corrina Corrina (Joree Scriver), 8-5
2. Short Pockets (Miguel Perez), 12-1
3. Special Pride (Luis Fuentes), 10-1
4. Our Time To Shine (Francisco Amparan), 7-2
5. Desertrose Oftexas (Alfredo Juarez Jr.), 8-1
6. No Regrets N Love (Ken Tohill), 10-1
7. Flaxy Lady (Alejandro Medellin), 3-1
8. Autumn Touch (Jose M. Vazquez), 20-1

NEW MEXICO CUP LASSIE CHAMPIONSHIP (R)
(Post time, 2:42)
Purse, $125,000 — 6 furlongs
2-year-old fillies
Attilas Angel, a bay daughter of Attila’s Storm owned by Joe Dee Brooks and R. Lee Lewis, is the 5-2 morning-line favorite for Sunday’s New Mexico Cup Lassie Championship (R) for 2-year-old fillies.

Trained by Todd Fincher, Attilas Angel is coming off of a wire-to-wire, 2 1/4-length win in a 5 1/2-furlong, $30,000 maiden-special-weight dash at Albuquerque Downs on September 25. The filly is out of Ringback, a winning Gone Hollywood mare, and she is a full sister to the stakes-placed Fill The Bill, and a half to four-time stakes winner Hollywood Henry.

Attilas Angel drew post 4 and will be ridden by Oscar Ceballos.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:

1. Mama Was a Rocket (Christian Ramos), 15-1
2. Seventh St Diamond (Joree Scriver), 9-2
3. Bellamundo (Ken Tohill), 4-1
4. Attilas Angel (Oscar Ceballos), 5-2
5. Metros Lil Pollie (Casey Chavez, 20-1
6. Doer Not A Faker (Luis Fuentes), 3-1
7. Bryns Mark (Alfredo Juarez Jr.), 8-1
8. Diamond Mine (Luis R. Rodriguez), 8-1

NEW MEXICO CUP DERBY CHAMPIONSHIP (R)
(Post time, 3:09)
Purse, $125,000 — 6 furlongs
3-year-old colts and geldings
Nine sophomore colts and geldings, headed by morning-line favorite Diabolical Storm, are entered in Sunday’s New Mexico Cup Derby Championship (R).

A homebred son of Attila’s Storm trained by Todd Fincher for owners Joe Dee Bryant, Scott Bryant, and Derrol Hubbard, Diabolical Storm has earned $245,900 from seven races this season, and his four wins include the 1 1/16-mile, $250,000 New Mexico Breeders’ Derby (R) at Sunland Park in March, and the 5 1/2-furlong, $50,000 Duke City Sprint Stakes at Albuquerque Downs on July 30.

Diabolical Storm drew post 9 and will be ridden by Alfredo Juarez Jr.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:

1. Bye Bye Matty P (Christian Ramos), 8-1
2. Bodie Got Gold (Enrique Gomez), 10-1
3. Massive Roar (Luis Fuentes), 4-1
4. Go Red Rascal (Francisco Amparan), 9-2
5. Majorwayhome (Oscar Ceballos), 8-1
6. I Think I’m Here (Miguel Perez), 6-1
7. Perfect Zen (Alejandro Medellin), 20-1
8. Zenfully Zesty (Aldo Arboleda), 30-1
9. Diabolical Storm (Alfredo Juarez Jr.), 9-5

ROCKY GULCH NEW MEXICO CUP CHAMPIONSHIP (R)
(Post time, 3:36)
Purse, $125,000– 1 mile
3-year-olds & older
Thunder Dome will make the 52nd start of his career in Sunday’s 1-mile, $125,000 Rocky Gulch New Mexico Cup Championship (R).

An 8-year-old Dome gelding owned by Mike H. Carson and Bill Carson, Thunder Dome placed first in the 7 1/2-furlong, $50,000 Land of Enchantment Stakes (R) at Ruidoso Downs on August 6. To date, he has won 12 of 51 races — including seven stakes — and he has earned $739,702. His resume includes victories in the 2018 and ’20 Rocky Gulch New Mexico Cup Championship.

Thunder Dome drew post 8 and will be ridden by Rigo Sarmiento for trainer Dallas Barton.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:

1. Color Me Gone (Jose M. Vazquez), 30-1
2. Comet Causey (Luis Fuentes), 15-1
3. Elliot (Alejandro Medelln), 20-1
4. Storm Bayou (Joree Scriver), 10-1
5. One Mark (Alfredo Juarez Jr.), 5-1
6. Cheese Tray (Oscar Ceballos), 9-5
7. Jet N G (Ken Tohill), 8-1
8. Thunder Dome (Rigo Sarmiento), 3-1
9. Half Court Sam (Enrique Gomez), 12-1
10. Masterclass (Christian Ramos), 12-1

NEW MEXICO CUP DISTAFF SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP (R)
(Post time, 4:03)
Purse, $125,000– 6 furlongs
Fillies & mares, 3-year-olds & older
Nancy L. Lock’s For Markeese, a homebred 4-year-old Marking filly, will risk her win streak in Sunday’s 6-furlong New Mexico Cup Distaff Sprint Championship (R).

Trained by Nancy Summers, For Markeese boasts a three-race win streak that includes a wire-to-wire, two-length victory in a 6-furlong non-winers-of-three allowance race for New Mexico-bred distaffers at Albuquerque Downs on September 17. The bay filly has won three of five races and has earned $65,518, and she will be facing stakes company for the first time on Sunday.

For Markeese drew the rail post and will be ridden by Oscar Ceballos.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:

1. For Markeese (Oscar Ceballos), 5-2
2. Rox From Navarone (Aldo Arboleda), 20-1
3. Tutta Terlingua (Francisco Amparan), 9-2
4. Proofsinthepuddin (Alfredo Juarez Jr.), 4-1
5. Quatro (Joree Scriver), 10-1
6. Shugs Charlie (Christian Ramos), 12-1
7. Bikini Time (Rigo Sarmiento), 15-1
8. Sheza Dandy R F (Casey Chavez), 20-1
9. Tight Fittin Jeans (Enrique Gomez), 6-1
10. Sexy Bikini Model (Alejandro Medellin), 15-1
11. Caycee’s Mark (Ken Tohill), 10-1

NEW MEXICO CUP JUVENILE CHAMPIONSHIP (R)
(Post time, 4:30)
Purse, $125,000 — 6 furlongs
2-year-old colts & geldings
Storm Leader, a two-time stakes winner during the Ruidoso Downs summer meet, drew post 10 for Sunday’s New Mexico Cup Juvenile Championship (R).

A homebred Attila’s Storm gelding trained by Todd Fincher for owners Mike Abraham, Leslie Amestoy, and Pierre J. Amestoy Jr., Storm Leader has earned $240,185 from six races, and his four wins include the 5-furlong, $152,000 Mountain Top Futurity (R) on June 26, and the 5 1/2-furlong, $138,000 Rio Grande Senor Futurity (R) on August 14. Storm Leader will be ridden by Alfredo Juarez Jr.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:

1. Rig It Right (Teresa Salazar), 50-1
2. Musics My Vice (Aldo Arboleda), 8-1
3. Smartsrealgood (Francisco Amparan), 10-1
4. Remember Sixtytwo (J.C. Villanueva), 15-1
5. Tatas Joe Mark (Gabriel Arredondo), 20-1
6. Danjerus Storm (Joree Scriver), 30-1
7. Nostrangrtotherain (Luis Fuentes), 9-2
8. Sense Of Urgency (Christian Ramos), 12-1
9. New Mexico Jeremy (Enrique Gomez), 8-1
10. Storm Leader (Alfredo Juarez Jr., 3-2
11. Beach Runner (Alejandro Medellin), 10-1
12. Pagosa Dream (Rigo Sarmiento), 20-1

NEW MEXICO CUP SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP (R)
(Post time, 4:57)
Purse, $125,000 — 6 furlongs
3-year-olds & older
Christopher N. Roybal’s No Pasa Nada heads a full field of 12 entered in Sunday’s New Mexico Cup Sprint Chapionship (R).

A 6-year-old gelded son of Attila’s Storm trained by Carlos Acosta Jr., No Pasa Nada was claimed for $12,500 on February 12 at Sunland Park. Since the claim, he has won three of seven races, including the 6 1/2-furlong, $100,000 Jack Cole Stakes (R) at SunRay Park on May 7, and the 5 1/2-furlong, $100,000 Casey Darnell Stakes (R) at Albuquerque Downs on August 22.

No Pasa Nada drew post 10 and will be ridden by Luis Fuentes.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:

1. On A Warpath (Francisco Amparan), 10-1
2. Delbert Too (Alejandro Medellin), 6-1
3. Diabolical Gator (Ken Tohill), 8-1
4. Monterey Secret (Christian Ramos), 20-1
5. Cerveza (Luis Ramon Rodriguez), 15-1
6. Lariat (Joree Scriver), 9-2
7. Mcthanks (Jose M. Vazquez), 20-1
8. Strawberry Whisky (Aldo Arboleda), 6-1
9. Desert Reward Alfredo Juarez Jr.), 10-1
10. No Pasa Nada (Luis Fuentes), 7-2
11. Izeright Enrique Gomez), 8-1
12. All Chrome (Oscar Ceballos), 30-1

Courtesy New Mexico Horse Breeders Association.