Racing


Bl Corona Steps Up In New Mexico Fillies and Mares Championship
Bl Corona holds of Astica in the $153,480 New Mexico Fillies and Mares Championship at Zia Park Wednesday afternoon.

© Coady Photography
Bl Corona Steps Up In New Mexico Fillies and Mares Championship

HOBBS, NM—NOVEMBER 25, 2015—Bl Corona (40-1) got the biggest win of her career Wednesday when she outlasted heavy favorite Astica to win the $153,480 New Mexico Fillies and Mares Championship at Zia Park. Pretty Woody Jesse finished half-a-length off the leaders in the show position.

Ridden by jockey Edgar Martinez Bl Corona completed the 400 yards in :19.842 seconds into a 10 mph headwind. Coming off an allowance victory at Zia on October 5 the Southern Corona 4-year-old was making her first-ever stakes appearance in the New Mexico Fillies and Mares Championship. She rewarded backers with an $83.40 payoff on a $2 win voucher.

Director of Racing Fred Hutton presents New Mexico Fillies and Mares Championship winning trainer Irving Fournier and winning jockey Edgar Martinez, the stakes trophy Wednesday at Zia Park. © Coady Photography
Irving Fournier conditions the gray filly for owner Bertha Irigoyen. Bred by Jovi Investment Group, from the Runaway Winner mare Bl Durun, Bl Corona has compiled a (17) 4-4-2 record and used the $91,800 Championship winner's purse to boost her career total to $165,066.

Graded stakes winner Astica stumbled at the start, snapping her six-race win streak when she just missed at the wire under jockey Adrian Ramos. Already a three-time stakes winner this year, the homebred daughter racing for MJ Farms picked up $33,660 for finishing second. Wes Giles trains the Jesse James Jr filly out of champion Alice K White, by First Down Dash. The winner of seven of 11 career starts has earned $257,923.

Pretty Woody Jesse put in a solid effort under jockey Ivan Carnero to take third. Kenneth Grisham saddled the graded stakes winning daughter of Jesse James Jr for owner Yaneth Cabrera. Eloy Duree bred the sorrel from the Woodbridge mare Woodbridge Duchess. After pocketing $15,300 for the effort Pretty Woody Jesse pushed her earnings total to $131,226.

Bankie Bay, Genuine Kiss, Watch For Corona, Penny Snatchin, AJ Hardwood, Regal First Moon and Averyspecialsouthern completed the field.