Preview Racing


Rescheduled New Mexico Classics Quarter Horse Stakes Set for Sunday at Zia Park
Six New Mexico state-bred Quarter Horse stakes are carded on Sunday at Zia Park.

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Rescheduled New Mexico Classics Quarter Horse Stakes Set for Sunday at Zia Park

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

HOBBS, NM–DECEMBER 11, 2024–Sunday’s all-Quarter Horse program at Zia Park will feature six state-bred New Mexico Classics stakes.

Following is a preview of all six stakes, listed in the order they will be run.

New Mexico Classics 870 Stakes (RG3)
Multiple graded stakes winner Freedom Flash is one of eight state-bred distance specialists entered in Sunday’s 870-yard, $150,000 New Mexico Classics 870 Stakes.

Trained by Todd Fincher for owners Pierre J. Amestoy Jr., Leslie Amestoy, and Roger K. Beasley, Freedom Flash began his 8-year-old season with a four-length victory in the February 4, 870-yard Starr Western Wear Stakes (R) at Sunland Park. The gelded son of champion First Moonflash has won eight of his 19 outs at the 870-yard distance, including the last two runnings of the New Mexico Classics 870 Stakes.

Freedom Flash drew post 6 and will be ridden by Christian Ramos.

New Mexico Classics Distaff Stakes (R)
Armando Fraire’s Jess Emotions will face stakes company for the first time in Sunday’s 350-yard, $100,000 New Mexico Classics Distaff Stakes for state-bred fillies and mares.

A 4-year-old daughter of Jess A Chicks, Jess Emotions is coming off of a neck victory in a 350-yard, $67,000 non-winners-of-three allowance dash for New Mexico-breds at Zia Park on November 23. David Gomez-Barraza trains the mare.

Jess Emotions drew the rail post and will be ridden by Christian Ramos.

New Mexico Classics Filly and Mare Championship (RG1)
Miss Hi Tide, a multiple stakes winning Woodbridge 3-year-old filly trained by Wes Giles for owner Uno Menos, will face older company for the first time in Sunday’s 400-yard, $200,000 New Mexico Classics Filly and Mare Championship for state-bred distaffers.

Miss Hi Tide is coming off of a one-length victory in the 400-yard, $442,000 New Mexico State Fair Derby (RG3) at Albuquerque Downs on October 13. The filly’s season resume includes a second-place finish, a half of a length behind winner Especially Goodcandy, in the September 2, $662,000 All American Oaks (G1) at Albuquerque Downs.

Miss Hi Tide drew post 4 and will be ridden by Adrian Ramos.

Other contenders include Backdoor Thoroughbreds’ Fine Am Eye, a 4-year-old Eye Am King mare trained by James Gonzales III. Fine Am Eye is coming off of a three-quarter length win in the October 27, 350-yard Champagne Lane Stakes (R) at Albuquerque Downs.

Fine Am Eye drew post 7 and will be ridden by Noe Garcia Jr.

New Mexico Classics Championship (RG1)
RC Corona King, a graded stakes winning 4-year-old Eye Am King gelding racing for Jose R. Riojas, is one of a dozen state-bred sprinters entered in Sunday’s 440-yard, $200,000 New Mexico Classics Championship.

RC Corona King is coming off of an Albuquerque Downs campaign during which he won the 440-yard, $75,000 First Moonflash Maturity (RG2) for New Mexico-breds and ran fifth, 2 1/2 lengths behind winner Out of The Way, in the open 440-yard, $350,000 Albuquerque Fall Championship (G1). Gerardo Quinonez trains the sorrel gelding.

RC Corona King drew post 3 and will be ridden by Sergio Dominguez.

New Mexico Classics Derby (RG2)
Uno Menos’ Bigg Picture drew post 7 for Sunday’s 400-yard, $229,210 New Mexico Classics Derby for state-bred sophomores.

A gray son of Big Daddy Cartel trained by Wes Giles, Bigg Picture has earned $149,710 from eight outs this year, and his record includes a second-place finish, one length behind winner Miss Hi Tide, in the October 13 New Mexico State Fair Derby (RG3) at Albuquerque Downs. The gelding also was a finalist in the sport’s richest race for 3-year-olds, the September 2, $1.041-million All American Derby (G1) at Albuquerque Downs.

Bigg Picture will be ridden by Adrian Ramos.

New Mexico Classics Futurity (RG2)
Woody Rocks, a multiple stakes winning son of the Dash Ta Fame stallion Woodbridge, is one of 10 state-bred 2-year-olds entered back in Sunday’s 350-yard, $340,708 New Mexico Classics Futurity.

Trained by Tony Sedillo for owner CHR Racing, Woody Rocks is the eighth-fastest qualifier from a dozen trials contested on November 2. However, the gelding has banked $200,994 from seven races this year, and his two stakes wins include a neck victory in the 400-yard, $368,000 Zia Futurity (RG1) at Albuquerque Downs on July 28.

Woody Rocks drew post 9 and will be ridden by Christian Ramos.

All Zia Park races can be seen at Q-Racing Video.com.