Azara, the 9-5 morning-line favorite, drew post 5 in Sunday’s 400-yard, $319,805 Zia Futurity (RG1) at Ruidoso Downs.

© Jake Rogers / Ruidoso Downs

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—JULY 27, 2021—Four New Mexico-bred Quarter Horse stakes will be contested during this weekend’s Zia Festival at Ruidoso Downs.

Ten state-bred 2-year-olds are entered back in the Zia Festival’s richest race, Sunday’s 400-yard, $319,805 Zia Futurity (RG1). Azara, the 9-5 morning-line favorite, drew post 5 and will be ridden by Raul Herrera. A bay daughter of A Royal Jess trained by Manuel Rodolfo Rodriguez for owner MRB Racing LLC, Azara has won two of three starts and has earned $57,577, and the filly’s record includes a second-place finish, one length behind winner Mr Innovator, in the June 20, $280,000 Mountain Top Futurity (RG2).

Jose E. Guzman’s Flashin Fire, the fastest qualifier, broke his maiden with a half-length victory in the fifth of 10 Zia Futurity trials on July 16. Santos Carrizales Jr. trains the gelded son of 2009 champion aged stallion First Moonflash.

Flashin Fire drew post 9 and will be ridden by Juan Pulido.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:

1. Renika (Joseph Belloc Jr.), 8-1
2. Tickle The Nickel (Alan Hernandez), 10-1
3. Jess Ring The Bell (Luis A. Flores-Garcia), 15-1
4. Daddys Mony (Adrian A. Ramos), 8-1
5. Azara (Raul Herrera), 9-5
6. Wine Dont Like (Francisco Calderon), 12-1
7. First Feature (Sergio Becerra Jr.), 20-1
8. Long Pour (Mario Delgado), 7-2
9. Flashin Fire (Juan Pulido), 3-1
10. Cowboy Zulu (Noe Garcia Jr.), 4-1

Also on Sunday, stakes winner Bad Kompany heads a field of 12 New Mexico-bred 2-year-olds -- including two also-eligible entries -- entered back in the 400-yard, $50,000 Zia Juvenile Stakes (R). A homebred Jesse James Jr gelding owned and trained by Fred Danley, Bad Kompany has earned $25,683 from three outs, and his two wins include a neck victory in the 350-yard,, $50,000 Mountain Top Juvenile Stakes (R) on June 20. Bad Kompany drew post 7 and will be ridden by Jose Enrique Ortiz.

Two stakes -- the 400-yard, $203,479 Zia Derby (RG2) and 400-yard, $50,000 Zia Stakes (RG2) -- are scheduled for Saturday.

Icy Morning Breeze, a homebred Winners Version filly racing for the Estate of William and Mary Robertson, is the 1-2 morning-line favorite for the Zia Derby. Icy Morning Breeze is trained by Jackie Riddle, and the filly has won her last four starts, including last year’s 350-yard, $360,000 New Mexico Cup Futurity (RG2) at Zia Park, and the inaugural 350-yard, $91,000 Mountain Top Derby (R) on June 19.

Icy Morning Breeze drew post 2 and will be ridden by Hector Aldrete.

Rex Wells’ Colby James heads a field of 10 aged New Mexico-bred sprinters entered in the Zia Stakes. A $15,000 yearling purchase at the 2018 New Mexico-Bred Sale at Ruidoso Downs, the 4-year-old Jesse James Jr gelding has won six of 13 starts and has earned $400,495. Colby James is coming off of a half-length victory in the 400-yard, $56,000 Jimmy Drake Stakes (RG3) at SunRay Park on May 16.

Colby James drew post 2 and will be ridden by Mario Delgado for trainer James J. Gonzales II.

All Ruidoso Downs races can be seen at Q-RacingVideo.com.