Thursday, February 16, 2012
A full field of 3-year-old Quarter Horses, plus two also-eligibles, has been entered in Sunday's 400-yard, $110,000 New Mexico Horse Breeders' Association Stakes (RG2) at Sunland Park.
The likely favorite, First Blazin Love, is coming off of a half-length victory in the 400-yard, $286,364 Shue Fly Stakes (RG2) at Sunland on January 7. Racing for Dwayne Johnson, Lisa Saumell, and Johnny C. Martinez, the chestnut colt by Chicks A Blazin has won four of five races and has earned $156,472.
Reigning AQHA champion jockey G.R. Carter Jr. will ride First Blazin Love from post 5. Carter has been aboard the colt for all four of his wins.
Other NMHBA Stakes contenders include Shue Fly runner-up Fury Of The Storm and graded stakes winner Sparklin Royal. A bay colt by Furyofthewind campaigned by SM Cattle Export Company and Jaime Dominguez, Fury Of The Storm has banked $81,231 from six outs.
Sparklin Royal, a homebred daughter of Sixes Royal, has earned $92,162 for her owner, Gary C. Kloppenburg of Corrales, New Mexico. The filly's four wins in 11 starts include the September 24, $77,114 New Mexico State Fair Senorita Futurity (RG3) at The Downs at Albuquerque.
All horses will carry 124 pounds. The complete lineup for the NMHBA Stakes, in post position order including jockey assignments – Latest Policy (Alonso Rivera), Untangled Vines (Antonio Escareno), Chick Town (Tony Guymon), Dreams Happen (Alejandro Medellin), First Blazin Love (G.R. Carter Jr.), Lttle Lighting (Flavio Lozano), Sparklin Royal (Joe Martinez), My Big Chief (Ruben Calderon), RCJ Major Storm (Vicente Grajeda), Fury Of The Storm (Esgar Ramirez), AE-Corona With A Shot (Salvador Martinez), and AE-Jess One Ace (Ricky Ramirez).
Post time for the NMHBA Stakes is scheduled for 1:37 p.m. (MST).