Racing


Donelli Scores Downs Double With New Mexico State Fair QH Derby Win
Donelli, under jockey Alan Hernandez, drives to victory in the $252,077 New Mexico State Fair QH Derby(RG3) Sunday afternoon at The Downs at Albuquerque.

© Coady Photography
Donelli Scores Downs Double With New Mexico State Fair QH Derby Win

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—SEPTEMBER 20, 2020—Last year's New Mexico State Fair QH Futurity(RG3) winner Donelli returned Sunday to win the $252,077 New Mexico State Fair QH Derby(RG3) for owner-breeder MJ Farms at The Downs at Albuquerque.

Donelli, under jockey Alan Hernandez, posted a three-quarter length win over Dark Moon and Don Chuy C who dead-heated for the place position.

The gray daughter of leading New Mexico sire Big Daddy Cartel covered the 400 yards in :19.573 seconds, equaling a 92 speed index into a 5 mph crosswind. It was the seventh career win in 11 starts for Donelli and the $122,257 winner's purse boosted her bankroll to $402,501.

Trained by Wesley Giles, Donelli was third in the Zia QH Derby(RG2) at Ruidoso Downs over the summer and second in the Shue Fly Stakes (RG3) at Sunland Park in January. She is out of the Tres Seis mare Tres Of Alice.

Janis Murray of MJ Farms accepting the New Mexico State Fair QH Derby stakes trophy Sunday afternoon at The Downs at Albuquerque. © Coady Photography
Runner-up Dark Moon and Don Chuy C earned $39,122 each for their efforts.

Clinton Crawford trains Dark Moon, a daughter of champion sire First Moonflash, for owner Cavenaugh Quarter Horses, LLC. Mike Abraham and Grant Farms bred the $100,555 earner from the Ivory James mare Special Dark Ivory. Francisco Calderon had the riding call.

Also by First Moonflash, Don Chuy C races for owner Jesus Carrasco and trainer Joel Valeriano, Jr. Mike Abraham bred the brown colt from the Spit Curl Lark mare Jess Say Bye Bye. Esgar Ramirez was aboard last year's By By JJ Stakes winner who has earned $83,975.

Anakena, Finnley, Mi Moonflash, Lionesse, Easters Regard, Jess Getaway and Apollo Chicks completed the field.

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Albuquerque Downs Racetrack and Casino is located in the heart of Albuquerque at Expo New Mexico, the home of the New Mexico State Fair, and general admission and parking are always free (via the casino entrance on Louisiana and Central). For more information, visit abqdowns.com and click on the "Racing" link at the top of the homepage.