Racing


Multiple Stakes Winner Klassic Strawfly Sets Top Mark in West Texas Maturity Trials
Klassic Strawfly, under jockey Alejandro Medellin, rolled to his 17th career win while posting the fastest time for the Grade 2 $115,160 West Texas Maturity on Friday at Sunland Park.

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Multiple Stakes Winner Klassic Strawfly Sets Top Mark in West Texas Maturity Trials

SUNLAND PARK, NM—FEBRUARY 17, 2017—Multiple graded winner Klassic Strawfly bounced off a fifth-place effort in the Dona Ana County Handicap last month to defeat RG1 winner Once Over by three-quarters Friday afternoon at Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino. The win garnered the gelding the fastest qualifying time for the Grade 2 $115,160 West Texas Maturity.

The 10 fastest qualifiers, from three trial races contested today at Sunland Park, will return on Sunday, March 10th to vie for the $53,097 Maturity winner's purse over a 400-yard course.

Klassic Strawfly, under jockey Alejandro Medellin, showed he still has it at 11-years-old by gliding over the 400 yards in a quick :19.119 clocking. The warrior recorded a 101-speed index with a 13-mph tailwind.

Trainer Alfredo Gomez conditions the son of Genuine Strawfly for owner Yaneth Cabrera. Bred in New Mexico by Ron Stephens, Klassic Strawfly has compiled a (96) 17-11-11 record and earned $573,821. Out of the A Classic Dash mare A Classic Song, the sorrel gelding capped off a five-straight win streak last season by taking the RG1 Namehimastreaker NM Classic Championship at Zia Park.

Gbh Gunsmoke was much the best in the final trial (Race 9) under jockey Oscar Cordova, winning by one length under a hand ride. The 4-year-old son of Ivory James recorded the second fastest time of :19.219 seconds, a 97-speed index.

Owned by PBT Racing LLC and conditioned by trainer Alfredo Sanchez, Gbh Gunsmoke was the first of three West Texas Maturity qualifies for his sire Ivory James. Gary Harstack bred the gelding in New Mexico from the Streakin La Jolla mare Streaking For Toni. The five-time winner has earned $60,337.

Champion trainer Paul Jones saddled Fine Oak Corona to a three-quarter length win in the opening trial to get the 6th fastest time of :19.358 seconds, a 94-speed index. Runner-up in the Grade 1 Ruidoso Futurity at 2, the son of Coronas Prospect has compiled a (15) 4-3-1 record and banked over $222,500.

Jose Sanchez campaigns the Victor Sanchez Oklahoma-bred out of the Oak Tree Special mare Like A Fine Oak. Raul Herrera was aboard in the qualifying race.

For a complete list of qualifiers, times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys to the 2017 West Texas Maturity(G2) CLICK HERE.