Runner Chick (#3), under jockey Jaime Leos, defeat Meleros Dash and Daddys Best in the RG3 $175,051 New Mexico Breeders Futurity at SunRay Park Sunday afternoon.

© Coady Photography

FARMINGTON, NM—JUNE 2, 2019—A blanket finish in the $175,051 New Mexico Breeders Futurity(RG3) resulted in an upset win by Runner Chick on Sunday afternoon at SunRay Park.

Final time for the 350-yard stakes race was :17.638 seconds for a speed index of 88.

Runner Chick ($16.40) and jockey Jaime Leos broke well and maintained an early narrow lead to win by a head over a fast track. Only a neck separated the top five finishers at the wire, which did not include fastest qualifier and post-time favorite Dreamin Woodrow.

Runner Chick is trained by Juan Gonzales for his mother, Patricia Gonzales. He was bred in New Mexico by Killer Humberto Lopez Gaxiola, by Chicks Regard and out of the Mr Eye Opener mare Eyesa Runner. Eyesa Runner is a multiple stakes placed mare who earned over $90,000 in her career.

The winning connections of Runner Chick accept the New Mexico Breeders' Futurity stakes trophy Sunday afternoon
at SunRay Park. © Coady Photography

This was the second career race for Runner Chick, who broke her maiden in Sunday’s race. She finished second in her trial behind Dreamin Woodrow and was the fourth fastest qualifier overall.

Meleros Dash and jockey Irving Delgado-Bustillos also broke well alongside Runner Chick and chased the eventual wire to the winner before losing the photo finish.

Meleros Dash is trained by Ruben Leyba for owner Lucina Salas Lopez. He was bred by Adrian Melero, by Next Bandit and out of Lorraine of Terror, by Sixes Royal. He was third in his trial and was not in the original top ten qualifiers.

Daddys Beats and Jose Ruiz completed the high-priced trifecta at odds of over 13-1. Daddys Beats was the ninth fastest qualifier after running second in his trial. The son of Big Daddy Cartel was bred by Jose Enriquez, out of the Desirio mare Sugar Beats. He is trained by Jorge Morales-Flores for owner Maria L. Villegas-Najera.

Completing the field were W R Ace On the Move, Damazo Bay, Mischka Cartel, Xtra Feature, Dreamin Woodrow, Eclipse the Moon and Crazy Cartel. Bull Believe and Mr Ordegan were scratched.

The rider of Crazy Cartel lodged a claim of foul against the rider of Xtra Feature but the objection was disallowed.