Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino
Saturday, December 26, 2009
First Moonflash earns second title in $350,000 Grade 1 Championship at Sunland Park
First Moonflash defended his title with a courageous victory in the $350,000 Grade 1 Championship at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino on Saturday. The sensational brown stallion by First to Flash became the first horse to win the Championship at Sunland Park twice in its nine runnings.
Under regular pilot Alejandro Medellin, First Moonflash did not exit the gates well and bobbled at the start. The 3-5 favorite recovered quickly and found his top strides. Midway through the 400 yard classic, he drew on even terms with Jess Zoomin and fought to gain a stranglehold of the race. First Moonflash called upon all his class to hold off Rylees Boy by a nose and score his 10th win from his last 11 tries. The winning time was 19.057 seconds, good for a 97 speed index.
The winner took home a $159,400 paycheck for winning owners Leslie A. and Pierre Amestoy, Jr. and Maria G. Gonzalez. Andres Gonzalez was the winning trainer.
The 2009 Championship at Sunland Park capped off a terrific career for Sunland Park’s star Quarter Horse. Leslie Amestoy said, “I was worried three jumps out. He seemed to stumble, but his heart came through. I am so proud of him. It’s just fantastic.”
Co-owner Pierre Amestoy added, “I think his mind makes him so special . He is such a physical specimen, but his mind is his best attribute. He is now retired and will stand stud at the Double L Farms. He is the best New Mexico-bred Quarter Horse ever.”
First Moonflash retires with an enviable record. The New Mexico-bred legend won 14 times from 25 starts and earned close to $970,000. His glossy resume includes two wins in the Championship at Sunland Park and Jess Burner Memorial Handicap, and victories in the New Mexico Cup Classic Derby and Championship and the Bank of American New Mexico Regional Challenge Championship. Without question, he has been the most dominant Quarter Horse at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino during the last two years. He should be in the running for the 2009 World Champion Aged Stallion award.
Racing at 8-1 odds, Rylees Boy ran a huge race and nearly overhauled the big favorite. Under jockey Joe Ruiz, the former Yavapai Downs star charged down the stretch and just missed by a nose. The runner-up earned $72,400 for owner-trainer Gerardo Pena Ochoa.
Jess Zoomin held on to third place after controlling the lead for much of the race. The three-year-old son of Shazoom broke sharply under jockey Ricky Ramirez. Third place was worth $34,400 for the Jess Zoomin Partners. Noconi failed to deliver his usual punch and wound up fourth.
2008 World Champion Stolis Winner never fired and finished fifth beaten over one length. The 3-1 second favorite was ridden by G.R. Carter.
Live racing resumes on Sunday at 12:25 p.m. The $131,707 Grade 2 Sunland Park Winter Quarter Horse Derby (3rd race), the $224,407 Sunland Park Winter Quarter Horse Futurity (4th race) and the $50,000 Bold Ego Handicap (10th race) are the live feature races.
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Saturday, December 26, 2009
First Moonflash earns second title in $350,000 Grade 1 Championship at Sunland Park
First Moonflash defended his title with a courageous victory in the $350,000 Grade 1 Championship at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino on Saturday. The sensational brown stallion by First to Flash became the first horse to win the Championship at Sunland Park twice in its nine runnings.
Under regular pilot Alejandro Medellin, First Moonflash did not exit the gates well and bobbled at the start. The 3-5 favorite recovered quickly and found his top strides. Midway through the 400 yard classic, he drew on even terms with Jess Zoomin and fought to gain a stranglehold of the race. First Moonflash called upon all his class to hold off Rylees Boy by a nose and score his 10th win from his last 11 tries. The winning time was 19.057 seconds, good for a 97 speed index.
The winner took home a $159,400 paycheck for winning owners Leslie A. and Pierre Amestoy, Jr. and Maria G. Gonzalez. Andres Gonzalez was the winning trainer.
The 2009 Championship at Sunland Park capped off a terrific career for Sunland Park’s star Quarter Horse. Leslie Amestoy said, “I was worried three jumps out. He seemed to stumble, but his heart came through. I am so proud of him. It’s just fantastic.”
Co-owner Pierre Amestoy added, “I think his mind makes him so special . He is such a physical specimen, but his mind is his best attribute. He is now retired and will stand stud at the Double L Farms. He is the best New Mexico-bred Quarter Horse ever.”
First Moonflash retires with an enviable record. The New Mexico-bred legend won 14 times from 25 starts and earned close to $970,000. His glossy resume includes two wins in the Championship at Sunland Park and Jess Burner Memorial Handicap, and victories in the New Mexico Cup Classic Derby and Championship and the Bank of American New Mexico Regional Challenge Championship. Without question, he has been the most dominant Quarter Horse at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino during the last two years. He should be in the running for the 2009 World Champion Aged Stallion award.
Racing at 8-1 odds, Rylees Boy ran a huge race and nearly overhauled the big favorite. Under jockey Joe Ruiz, the former Yavapai Downs star charged down the stretch and just missed by a nose. The runner-up earned $72,400 for owner-trainer Gerardo Pena Ochoa.
Jess Zoomin held on to third place after controlling the lead for much of the race. The three-year-old son of Shazoom broke sharply under jockey Ricky Ramirez. Third place was worth $34,400 for the Jess Zoomin Partners. Noconi failed to deliver his usual punch and wound up fourth.
2008 World Champion Stolis Winner never fired and finished fifth beaten over one length. The 3-1 second favorite was ridden by G.R. Carter.
Live racing resumes on Sunday at 12:25 p.m. The $131,707 Grade 2 Sunland Park Winter Quarter Horse Derby (3rd race), the $224,407 Sunland Park Winter Quarter Horse Futurity (4th race) and the $50,000 Bold Ego Handicap (10th race) are the live feature races.
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