HOBBS, NM—OCTOBER 12, 2018—Thirty state-bred 3-year-olds, headed by recent stakes winner Regard The Rose, have been entered in Sunday’s 440-yard New Mexico Cup Derby (RG2) trials at Zia Park.

A brown daughter of Chicks Regard trained by Alfredo Triana Sr. for owner Mason A. King, Regard The Rose is coming off of a neck victory in the 400-yard, $134,000 New Mexico State Fair Breeders’ Derby (R) at Albuquerque Downs on September 23. The filly drew post 7 and will be ridden by Alfredo Triana Jr. in the second of three trials.

Regard The Rose’s nine opponents in the first trial include A Passion For Flashn, a graded stakes winning First Moonflash colt trained by Martin Orona Sr. for owner RC Racing LLC. The winner of last year’s 400-yard, $300,000 New Mexico Cup Futurity (RG2), A Passion For Flashn has banked $279,576 from 16 races, and he began his sophomore campaign with a one-length win in the 400-yard, $85,000 New Mexico Horse Breeders’ Association Stakes (RG2) at Sunland Park on February 18.

A Passion For Flashn drew post 2 and will be ridden by Raul Herrera.

Jesse Lane drew post 9 and will be ridden by Alonso Rivera in the first heat. Trained by Jimmy Padgett for owner MJ Farms of Veguita, New Mexico, the homebred Jesse James Jr gelding will be stretching out in distance off of his half-length victory as the 2-5 favorite in a 400-yard, $60,000 open-condition allowance for New Mexico-bred 3-year-olds at Albuquerque Downs on September 22.

Jesse Lane has earned $192,962 from nine starts, all in New Mexico, and his three wins include a three-quarter length score in last year’s 440-yard, $200,000 All American Juvenile Stakes at Ruidoso Downs.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will meet in the November 4, $200,000-est. New Mexico Cup Derby final.