Racing


Imperial Eagle Returns To Winner's Circle With Southwest Juvenile Championship Victory
Imperial Eagle, under jockey Esgar Ramirez, scores his second Grade 1 win this season in the $200,000 Southwest Juvenile Championship Sunday at Zia Park.

© Coady Photography
Imperial Eagle Returns To Winner's Circle With Southwest Juvenile Championship Victory

HOBBS, NM—DECEMBER 4, 2016—Grade 1 All American Futurity winner Imperial Eagle returned to the winner's circle on Sunday after easily defeating Magnifico Dragon by one-length in the Grade 1 $200,000 Southwest Juvenile Championship at Zia Park. Apollitical Scout finished three-quarter back in the show position.

Imperial Eagle, who had suffered his first loss in five races after an awkward start in the Hobbs America Futurity(G2) trials on September 24th, returned to form under jockey Esgar Ramirez. The gray son of leading sire One Famous Eagle completed the 440 yards in :21.678 seconds, a 94-speed index over a ''Good'' racing surface with a 6-mph tailwind.

Trainer Tony Sedillo saddled Imperial Eagle to his fifth win from eight starts for owner Charles E. Robinson. The Southwest Juvenile winner's purse of $93,120 boosts Imperial Eagle's earnings total to $1,641,507.

Bred in California by Freda Draper, form the Genuine Strawfly mare Jenuine Joy, Imperial Eagle won the Grade 1 $3 million All American Futurity on Labor Day and was second in the West Texas Futurity(G2) at Sunland Park last Spring.

Zia Park racing secretary Fred Hutton presents winning trainer Tony Sedillo and jockey Esgar Ramirez the Southwest Juvenile Championship(G1) stakes trophy Sunday afternoon at Zia Park. © Coady Photography
New Mexico Classic Futurity(RG1) winner Magnifico Dragon earned $32,980 for finishing second. Cynthia Gonzalez trains the gelding, by leading first crop sire Zulu Dragon, for owner Daniel Balderrama.

Also, second in the New Mexico State Fair Breeders' Futurity, Magnifico Dragon has earned $248,806 this year. Heriberto Moreno bred the sorrel in New Mexico from the Magnificence mare Cassies Mag.

Preston and Karen Cloud's Apollitical Scout finished third for the third straight time for trainer Clinton Crawford. Ridden by Omar Ryes, the daughter of leading third crop sire Apollitical Jess' last victory came in the Ruidoso Juvenile Invitational at Ruidoso Downs in May.

Bred in Oklahoma by Dan and Louise Jones, from the Corona Cartel mare Swingin Cartel, Apollitical Scout picked up $19,400 to bring her seasonal earnings total to $68,516.

Chainman, Pv Eye Desire Candy, Mahoney N Tacklebery, Pyc Jess Bite Mydust, Muddy Watters, Valorus, First Rate Return and Cr Game Changer completed the field.