Sunday, March 13, 2011
Fredda Draper's Jenuine Joy sprinted to a half-length victory in the 350-yard, $100,000 Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap (RG2) for New Mexico-breds at Sunland Park on Sunday.
Saddled by the owner's husband, Carl Draper, and ridden by Larry Payne, Jenuine Joy covered her 350-yard trip in :16.763 to earn a 104 speed index and her third career stakes victory. The homebred 5-year-old mare by Genuine Strawfly returned a $20.80 win mutuel.
“She always does her job and performs so well,” said Payne of Jenuine Joy, who was the only filly or mare in the field of nine.
“I was a little concerned about running with the boys,” he added. “She broke really hard and was very strong at the end of it.”
Jenuine Joy's sire, Genuine Strawfly, is a 12-year-old stallion by the late Strawfly Special who won the All American (G1) and Ruidoso (G2) derbies in 2001. He is owned by J & L Stables LLC and Fredda Draper and stands for a $2,000 fee at Dr. Leonard Blach's Buena Suerte Equine at Roswell, New Mexico.
All told, Jenuine Joy has won six of eight races, and the $60,000 winner's share of the Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap purse increased her earnings to $239,400. The mare was coming off of a half-length victory against state-bred distaffers in the 400-yard, $120,000 Lou Wooten Handicap (RG1) at Sunland Park on December 19.
Jenuine Joy's stakes resume includes a half-length win as the 6-5 favorite in last year's 400-yard, $75,000 Four Corners Senora Stakes at SunRay Park.
Corona Memory Crest finished second, a half of a length in front of 3-2 choice One Diamond Kitty. Dueling Juan, A First Caller, Here Kittykittykitty, CP Lawman, Miracle Snow, Tecate N Lyme, and In Famous Caper completed the order of finish.
A 4-year-old Corona Caliente gelding campaigned by Desiree “Dee” Mooring and trainer Andres Gonzalez, Corona Memory Crest banked $21,000 to push his earnings to $221,450 from seven wins in 16 outs. Corona Memory Crest scored a neck victory in last year's 440-yard, $194,000 New Mexico Cup Derby (RG2) at Zia Park.
One Diamond Kitty is a sorrel 5-year-old gelding by Genuine Strawfly and a full brother to Here Kittykittykitty. Racing for breeders Jay and Mary Lou Standefer of Roswell, New Mexico, One Diamond Kitty has won seven of 26 races – including last year's 440-yard, $170,000 Namehimastreaker New Mexico Cup Quarter Horse Championship (RG1) at Zia Park – and he has earned $516,622.