Racing


River Flash Gets Seventh Consecutive Win In New Mexico State Fair QH Derby - CORRECTION
River Flash (#6) holds off Jc New Dawn (#8) in the $287,844 New Mexico State Fair QH Derby at Albuquerque Downs Sunday afternoon.

© Coady Photography
River Flash Gets Seventh Consecutive Win In New Mexico State Fair QH Derby - CORRECTION

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—SEPTEMBER 25, 2022—Multiple stakes winner River Flash raced to his seventh career win on Sunday when he defeated Jc New Dawn by a neck in the $287,844 New Mexico State Fair Quarter Horse Derby at Albuquerque Downs.

Under regular rider Adrian Ramos, River Flash was pressured as he completed the 400 yards in :19.432 seconds, an 96 speed index into a 15 mph headwind. The son of multiple stakes sire Chicks Regard got his nineth career win in 13 starts and the $143,922 winner's purse boosts his bankroll total to $407,827.

Trainer Wesley Giles conditions the gray gelding for owners Robert Driggers and Ben Ivey. Bred in New Mexico by Ivey Cattle Company, from the First Moonflash mare Riverside Flash, River Flash kicked off his current win streak on April 24th in the New Mexico Breeders Stakes(RG3) at SunRay Park. 

He has also won the Zia Derby(RG2) and the Mountain Top Derby over the summer.

The winning connections of River Flash accept the New Mexico State Fair QH Derby trophy on Saturday at The Downs. © Coady Photography

Jc New Dwan picked up $57,569 for his second-place effort. Trainer Edgar Moreno named jockey Daniel Torres to ride the Woodbridge gelding for owners Telma Meraz and Federico Gonzalez. Bred by Cynthia Gonzalez, the daughter of Woodbridge out of Fly Stolis Chick by Stoli, is a multiple stakes-placed earner of nearly $160,000.

Stakes winner Bf Shes Outrageous finished 1-1/4 lengths off the leaders to earn $34,561 for third. Jockey Cordarleton Benn had the riding call for trainer Wesley Giles. The daughter of leading New Mexico sire Big Daddy Cartel races for owner Kevin Birrell. The homebred for Birrell Farms is  out of BF Outrageous by Proudest Effort. She has earned $120,219.

Cowboy Zulu, Big Crush Bb, Hs Golden Eagle, Lmg First Call, Papi Grande Cartel, Holland Rock and Miriam La Rebelde completed the field. Rz Richy and Tickle The Nickle were both scratched.

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Albuquerque Downs Racetrack and Casino is located in the heart of Albuquerque at Expo New Mexico, the home of the New Mexico State Fair, and general admission and parking are always free (via the casino entrance on Louisiana and Central). For more information, visit abqdowns.com and click on the "Racing" link at the top of the homepage.