Weekend Stakes Preview News - New Mexico Horse Breeders' Association

Fury Of The Storm Draws Outside Post in NM Breeders' Stakes

Graded stakes winner Fury Of The Storm drew post 10 for Sunday's 400-yard, $75,000-added New Mexico Breeders' Stakes (RG2) for state-bred 3-year-olds at SunRay Park.

New Mexico Breeders' Futurity Trials Set for Friday

Gary L. Thompson's Tombstone, a homebred gelding by the Mr Jess Perry stallion Get Down Perry, is one of 38 state-bred 2-year-olds entered in Friday's New Mexico Breeders' Futurity (RG3) trials at SunRay Park.

Our Choice Puts Win Streak on Line in Jack Cole

Stable HMA's Our Choice will put his four-race winning streak on the line in Saturday's 1-mile, $110,000 Jack Cole Handicap (R) at SunRay Park.

SunRay Park Meet Opens Friday

SunRay Park opens its 42-day Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse meet with an 11-race program on Friday. Post time for the first race is 3 p.m. (MDT).

Three NM-Bred Stakes Top Sunland Park's Saturday Program

The final weekend of Sunland Park's 77-day meet will feature three stakes races for New Mexico-bred Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses.

Conn Creek Draws Post 4 For New Mexican Spring Futurity

Fastest qualifier and morning-line favorite Conn Creek will break from post 4 in Sunday's 300-yard, $251,333 New Mexican Spring Futurity (RG2) at Sunland Park.

Castaway is Morning-Line Choice in Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby

Castaway, a Kentucky-bred colt by Street Sense trained by Bob Baffert, is the 2-1 morning-line favorite for Sunday's 1 1/8-mile, $800,000 Sunland Derby (G3) at Sunland Park.

Copper Top Futurity Trials Set for Tuesday

A total of 44 New Mexico-bred 2-year-olds have been entered in Tuesday's 4 1/2-furlong Copper Top Futurity (R) trials at Sunland Park.

Highweight Brother Louie Draws Outside Post for NM State University 'Cap

Brother Louie, the 121-pound highweight and 3-1 morning-line favorite, drew post 12 for Sunday's $110,000 New Mexico State University Handicap (R) for state-breds at Sunland Park.

Spring Futurity Trials Draw 74 Entries

Friday's 300-yard New Mexican Spring Futurity (RG1) trials at Sunland Park have attracted a total of 74 state-bred 2-year-olds in eight trial heats. Post time for the first heat is...

Favorite Here Kittykittykitty Draws Outside Post for Mesilla Valley Speed 'Cap

Morning-line favorite Here Kittykittykitty drew post 10 for Sunday's 350-yard, $110,000 Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap (RG2) for New Mexico-bred Quarter Horses at Sunland Park.

Smash Dancer Tops Field in Mt. Cristo Rey

Smash Dancer, a homebred 5-year-old Robyn Dancer gelding racing for Barbara M. Coleman of Farmington, is the morning-line favorite in Saturday's 4 1/2-furlong, $110,000 Mt. Cristo Rey Handicap (R) for New Mexico-breds at Sunland Park.

NM-Bred Filly Easy Loving Who Entered in Island Fashion Stakes

Easy Loving Who, a New Mexico-bred racing for Sam E. Stevens of Lamesa, Texas, is one of nine 3-year-old fillies entered in Sunday's $50,000 Island Fashion Stakes at Sunland Park.

Full Field Set For NMHBA Quarter Horse Stakes

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.

Rose's Desert is Morning-Line Favorite in Sydney Valentini

Rose's Desert, a homebred 4-year-old Desert God filly racing for Joe Peacock, is the 5-2 morning-line favorite for Saturday's 1-mile, $110,000 Sydney Valentini Handicap (R) for New Mexico-bred distaffers at Sunland Park.

New Mexico-Bred First Corona Call Entered in West Texas Maturity Trials

First Corona Call, a homebred 5-year-old gelding by Southern Corona racing for Richard R. Shearer, is one of four New Mexico-bred runners entered in Friday's West Texas Maturity (G2) trials at Sunland Park.

That's Who is Morning-Line Favorite in Pepsi Cola Stakes

That's Who, a homebred Quinton's Gold gelding racing for Sam and Latane Stevens, is the 9-5 morning-line choice in Saturday's 6-furlong, $110,000 Pepsi Cola Stakes (R) for New Mexico-bred 3-year-olds at Sunland Park.

Whisper's Sister Returns in La Senora

Whisper's Sister, the winner of the $110,000 Enchantress Stakes (R) on December 18, will make her 3-year-old debut in Saturday's 6-furlong, $110,000 La Senora Stakes (R) for New Mexico-bred sophomore fillies at Sunland Park.

Call Me A Blazn Chic Draws Rail Post for Shue Fly

Fastest qualifier Call Me A Blazn Chic has drawn post 1 for Saturday's 400-yard, $286,364 Shue Fly Stakes (RG2) for New Mexico-bred 3-year-olds at Sunland Park.

Big Holiday Stakes Weekend on Tap at Sunland Park

Sunland Park's racing schedule during the New Year's weekend holiday features six stakes, including two for New Mexico-bred Thoroughbreds.

Another Big Weekend Coming Up For New Mexico-Breds at Sunland Park

Sunland Park will present three more stakes for New Mexico-breds on its racing programs this weekend, starting with the 870-yard, $110,000 Challenger Six Handicap (R) for Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds on Saturday.

Big Weekend On Tap For NM-Breds at Sunland Park

Sunland Park will present three New Mexico-bred stakes – two for Thoroughbreds and one for Quarter Horses – during its racing programs this weekend.

Jenuine Joy is Favorite in NM Fillies & Mares Championship

Jenuine Joy, a homebred 5-year-old mare by Genuine Strawfly owned by Fredda Draper of Ruidoso Downs, is the 2-1 morning-line favorite for Saturday's 400-yard, $140,000 New Mexico Quarter Horse Fillies & Mares Championship (RG2) for state-bred distaffers at Zia Park.

NM Quarter Horse Breeders' Championship Tops Closing-Day Card at Albuquerque

A full field of 10 state-bred Quarter Horses have been entered in Sunday's 440-yard, $50,000 New Mexico Breeders' Quarter Horse Championship (RG3), as the curtain closes on The Downs at Albuquerque's 54-day meet.

Rich New Mexico Cup Races Draw 121 Entries

A total of 121 state-bred Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses have been entered in Sunday's New Mexico Cup races at Zia Park. Eleven stakes will be contested, seven for Thoroughbreds and four for Quarter Horses. Post time for the first race is 12:15 p.m. (MDT).

New Mexico Cup Futurity, Derby Trials Set for This Weekend

The best state-bred 2- and 3-year-old Quarter Horses will be on display this weekend at Zia Park, as the track presents trials for the New Mexico Cup Futurity (RG2) on Saturday and New Mexico Cup Derby (RG2) on Sunday.

Seven Stakes on Tap This Weekend at The Downs at Albuquerque

The New Mexico State Fair portion of The Downs at Albuquerque meet ends this weekend with seven stakes races for Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses, including six that are restricted to state-breds.

NM-Bred Stakes Trials Set for This Weekend at Albuquerque

The 13-day New Mexico State Fair portion of The Downs at Albuquerque meet gets underway on Friday, as the track presents trials for several state-bred Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse stakes.

Rich All American Futurity Tops Big Closing Weekend at Ruidoso Downs

Monday's 440-yard, $2.4-million All American Futurity (G1) is just one of six stakes races this weekend at Ruidoso Downs, as the track closes out its 2011 summer race meet.

NM-Bred Full Moon Dasher is Morning-Line Choice in Ruidoso Distaff Challenge

Full Moon Dasher, a New Mexico-bred daughter of the late Dash Ta Fame, is the 3-1 morning-line favorite in Sunday's 400-yard, $34,470 Merial Ruidoso Distaff Challenge Stakes at Ruidoso Downs.

Lineage Day Races at Albuquerque Attract 96 Entries

A total of 96 New Mexico-bred Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses have been entered in Sunday's Lineage Day races at The Downs at Albuquerque.

All American Derby Trials Draw 73 Sophomores, Including Five New Mexico-Breds

Friday's 440-yard All American Derby (G1) trials at Ruidoso Downs have attracted 73 3-year-olds, including five New Mexico-breds.

All American Futurity Trials Draw Eight New Mexico-Breds

A total of 252 2-year-olds – including eight New Mexico-breds – have been entered in Thursday's 440-yard All American Futurity (G1) trials at Ruidoso Downs.

Downs at Albuquerque Meet Opens Saturday

The Downs at Albuquerque opens its 54-day season with a 10-race program on Saturday. Post time for the first race is 1:30 p.m. (MDT).

New Mexico-Bred Fillies Entered in Saturday's Aspen Cup

Two New Mexico-bred fillies, Iplaytricks and Charleston Bound, are among the nine 3-year-old fillies entered in Saturday's $40,000 Aspen Cup Stakes at Ruidoso Downs.

Zia Futurity, Derby Trials Set for This Weekend

New Mexico-bred 2- and 3-year-old Quarter Horses will be on display at Ruidoso Downs, as the track presents trials for the Zia Futurity (RG1) and Zia Derby (RG2).

Mountain Top QH Futurity Trials Set for Friday

A total of 80 New Mexico-bred 2-year-olds have been entered in Friday's Mountain Top Quarter Horse Futurity (RG2) trials at Ruidoso Downs. Eight 350-yard trials will be run, with the 10 fastest qualifiers making the $250,000-est Mountain Top Futurity final on Sunday, June 19. Post time for the first trial will be 1 p.m. (MDT), while the eighth and final heat scheduled for 4:02 p.m.

SunRay Park Opens 48-Day Meet Saturday

SunRay Park in Farmington, New Mexico, opens its 48-day meet with a 10-race program on Saturday. Post time for the first race is 1 p.m. (MDT). SunRay's opening day feature is the 6 1/2-furlong, $50,000 Inaugural Handicap, which drew a field of nine older runners. Arthur C. Olivier's Tactful, a 5-year-old gelding by Grade 1 winner Bertrando trained by David Wolochuk, is the 123-pound high weight and 5-2 morning-line favorite.

Grade 3 Derby Tops Rich Sunland Park Program

A field of 11 Triple Crown hopefuls, including morning-line favorite Astrology, are entered in Sunday's Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby at Sunland Park, one of six Thoroughbred stakes on a rich 13-race card that will offer a total of $1,577,300. Post time for the first race is 12:45 p.m. (MDT). Scheduled post time for the Sunland Derby is 5:45.

Sunland Park Meet Opens Friday

Graded stakes winners Prospect To The Top, Fast Movin Vic, and Jumpn Shake are among the 52 2-year-olds entered in Friday’s Sunland Park Winter Futurity (G2) trials, as Sunland Park opens its 77-day meet with an 11-race program. Post time for the first race is 12:25 p.m. (MST).

Closing Weekend at Zia Park Features Four Stakes

Zia Park’s final weekend of live racing will feature four stakes, three for Thoroughbreds and one for Quarter Horses. Three of Zia Park’s final stakes – the 440-yard, $150,000 Zia Park Quarter Horse Championship (G1), the 1-mile, $120,000 New Mexico Eddy County Stakes (R) for state-bred 2-year-olds, and the 1 1/8-mile, $200,000 Zia Park Distance Championship – will be run as part of an 11-race card on Sunday. The other stakes, the 1 1/16-mile, $150,000 Zia Park Derby, is scheduled as the 10th race of an 11-race program on Saturday.

Holiday Weekend at Zia Park Features Friday Racing, Three Stakes

Racing at Zia Park in Hobbs, New Mexico, kicks off a day early this weekend, as the track presents a special day-after-Thanksgiving Friday program. Post time for the first race will be 12:15 p.m. (MST). Zia Park’s purses for the three-day holiday weekend will reach $959,800 for 33 races, an average of $29,085 per race. Of that total, $318,800 in purses will be for races restricted to New Mexico-breds.

Rich New Mexico Cup Program Set for Sunday

The best New Mexico-bred Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses in training will square off in Sunday’s New Mexico Cup program at Zia Park. More than $1,878,200 in purse money will be available in 11 races, eight of which are for Thoroughbreds and four of which are for Quarter Horses. The 2009 New Mexico Cup program was the year’s richest state-bred day of racing in North America.

NM State Fair Meet Ends This Weekend With Seven Stakes

The New Mexico State Fair portion of The Downs at Albuquerque meet ends this weekend with seven stakes, four for Thoroughbreds and three for Quarter Horses.

Grade 2 James Isaac Hobbs Stakes Tops NM Weekend Stakes Action

A full field of 10 sprinters will face off in Saturday’s 350-yard, $55,000 James Isaac Hobbs Stakes (G2) at Zia Park. The James Isaac Hobbs is one of three stakes races scheduled for New Mexico tracks this weekend. The others, Saturday’s 6 ½-furlong, $30,000 Fair Queen Stakes, and Sunday’s 400-yard, $30,000 La Mariposa Stakes (G3), will be contested during the New Mexico State Fair meet at The Downs at Albuquerque.

All American Futurity, Derby Top Big Closing Weekend at Ruidoso

Ruidoso Downs will end its 60-day summer meet this weekend, and the track’s schedule features six stakes – four for Quarter Horses and two for Thoroughbreds. Post time for all three days will be 12 p.m. (MDT).

Sunday’s Lineage Program Features Record 11 Races

A program-record 11 races will be featured on Sunday’s $380,000 Lineage program for New Mexico-bred Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses at The Downs at Albuquerque. Post time for the first race will be 1:30 p.m. (MDT).

All American Futurity, Derby Trials Set at Ruidoso

Ruidoso Downs will be at the center of the Quarter Horse racing world this week, as the track hosts 20 All American Futurity (G1) trials on Thursday and seven All American Derby (G1) trials on Friday. First post time for Thursday’s card will be 11 a.m. (MDT), while Friday’s nine-race program will get underway at 12 p.m. Friday’s last race is scheduled for 3:28, which is about one hour before the New Mexico-Bred Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse Yearling Sale is scheduled to begin at the Ruidoso Horse Sales Pavilion.

John Deere NM Juvenile Challenge Tops Ruidoso Downs Weekend Slate

Ruidoso Downs Racetrack will play host to a pair of Quarter Horse stakes this weekend. On Saturday, a full field of 10 2-year-olds will square off in the 350-yard, $60,210 John Deere New Mexico Juvenile Challenge (G3). This race will be followed by the $30,000 Mr Jet Moore Handicap (G3) on Sunday.

New Mexico Breds Prepared To Shine in Zia Festival

A total of 99 New Mexico-bred Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses have been entered in Sunday’s Zia Festival races at Ruidoso Downs Racetrack. Six of the Zia Festival races are for Thoroughbreds and four are for Quarter Horses. The Thoroughbred races will be topped by the 7 ½-furlong, $50,000 Land of Enchantment Handicap, in which Fullofenergy will be vying for his fourth consecutive victory.

Rich Rainbow Derby, Futurity Top Weekend Action at Ruidoso Downs

Ruidoso Downs Racetrack will be the center of Quarter Horse racing this weekend, as the track hosts a pair of significant Grade 1 stakes. Saturday’s 440-yard Rainbow Derby (G1) will be worth a stakes-record purse of $873,441, which breaks the previous mark of $567,167 set 28 years ago. The Rainbow Derby will be followed by the 400-yard, $625,000 Rainbow Futurity (G1) on Sunday, which features the continuing quest of American Runaway toward this year’s All American Triple Crown.

Rainbow Futurity, Derby Trials Top Week at Ruidoso Downs

A total of 179 2-year-olds have been entered in Thursday’s Rainbow Futurity (G1) trials at Ruidoso Downs. Post time for the first of the 18 400-yard trials is 12 p.m. (MDT). The top 10 qualifiers will meet in the $625,000 Rainbow Futurity final on July 25.

SunRay Park Closing Weekend Features Seven Stakes

SunRay Park in Farmington, New Mexico, ends its 2010 meet with seven stakes this weekend.

Rich Futurity, Derby Top Weekend Action at Ruidoso

Quarter horses will be in the spotlight this weekend at Ruidoso Downs, as the track hosts the 400-yard, $568,965 Ruidoso Derby (G1) on Saturday, and the 350-yard, $500,000 Ruidoso Futurity (G1) on Sunday.

Mountain Top Thoroughbred Futurity Trials Set for Thursday

A total of 21 New Mexico-bred 2-year-olds are entered in Thursday’s Mountain Top Futurity (R) trials at Ruidoso Downs. Dodson, a gelding by Roll Hennessy Roll racing for Tyler Holstein and Renee Carter and trained by Todd Fincher, is the morning-line even-money favorite in the last of three 5-furlong trials.

Five New Mexico Breeders’ Futurity Trials Set for Thursday

A total of 45 state-bred 2-year-olds have been entered in Thursday’s New Mexico Breeders’ Futurity (RG2) trials at SunRay Park. The 10 fastest qualifiers will meet in the 350-yard, $75,000-added final on May 30.

Field of Nine Set for Sunday’s Jack Cole Handicap

Lesters Secret has been assigned the high weight of 123 pounds for Sunday’s one-mile, $100,000 Jack Cole Handicap (R) for New Mexico-breds at SunRay Park. A 4-year-old Lesters Boy gelding racing for Simply The Best Thoroughbreds of Temecula, California, and trainer Henry Dominguez, Lesters Secret is coming off of a victory in the one-mile, $125,000 New Mexico State University Handicap (R) at Sunland Park on March 21.

SunRay Park Weekend Preview – April 24-25

Happy Me, a homebred 4-year-old filly racing for Rita Danley of Anthony, New Mexico, is the 5-2 morning-line favorite for Saturday’s Russell and Helen Foutz Handicap (R) for state-bred Thoroughbred distaffers at SunRay Park. The Foutz is one of two stakes scheduled for SunRay this weekend. The other, the $75,000 Four Corners Senora Stakes (R) for New Mexico-bred fillies and mares, will be run as the fourth race on Sunday’s 10-race program.

Shamrock Girl is Morning-Line Favorite for Fillies Division of Copper Top Futurity

Shamrock Girl, a filly by the Holy Bull stallion King Bull, has been made the 8-5 morning-line favorite for the $75,000-added fillies division of the Copper Top Futurity (R) at Sunland Park on Saturday. The 4 ½-furlong race is restricted to 2-year-old New Mexico-bred fillies, and it is one of eight stakes races presented by Sunland Park during the track’s closing weekend, which runs Saturday-Tuesday. Four of the stakes are for Thoroughbreds and four are for Quarter Horses.

New Mexican Spring Futurity Tops Sunland Park's Weekend Stakes Schedule

A full field of 10 state-bred 2-year-olds, including fastest qualifier Streak Of Sixes, will match strides in Sunday’s 300-yard, $283,555 New Mexican Spring Futurity (RG1) at Sunland Park. The New Mexican Spring Futurity is just one of four stakes scheduled for Sunland Park this weekend. The others are Saturday’s 300-yard, $75,000 New Mexican Spring Fling Stakes (R) for state-bred 2-year-olds, and 6-furlong, $50,000 Czaria Stakes for fillies and mares, and the 440-yard, $110,000-added Bank of America New Mexico Challenge (G1) on Sunday.

New Mexico-Breds Will Share Some of the Spotlight on Sunland Derby Day

Sunday’s 11-race program at Sunland Park will feature the first-ever graded Thoroughbred stakes in New Mexico racing history, but state-bred runners will also share in a bit of the spotlight. In addition to the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby, which has attracted eight 3-year-olds with Triple Crown aspirations, Sunland Park’s card will feature three races restricted to New Mexico-breds – the 5 ½-furlong, $125,000 La Coneja Stakes (R) for fillies and mares; the 1 1/16-mile, $100,000 New Mexico Breeders’ Oaks (R) for 3-year-old fillies; and the 1 1/16-mile, $100,000 New Mexico Breeders’ Derby (R) for 3-year-olds.

Grade 3 Winner Conveyance is Favored in Sunday's $800,000 Sunland Derby

Conveyance, a colt by Indian Charlie racing for Zabeel International Racing Corp., has been made the 9-5 morning-line favorite for the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby at Sunland Park on Sunday. Undefeated in four starts, Conveyance has earned $254,400 and is coming off of a three-quarter length victory in the $250,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) on February 20 at Oaklawn Park. The colt’s stakes record also includes a win in the January 16, $100,000 San Rafael Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park.

Weekend Stakes Preview

In The News