Racing


A Passion For Flashn Dominates Zia Futurity Trials
A Passion For Flashn dominated the rain-soaked seventh Zia QH Futurity trial to set the fastest time at Ruidoso Downs Saturday.

© Gay Harris / Ruidoso Downs
A Passion For Flashn Dominates Zia Futurity Trials

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—JULY 15, 2017—RC Racing, LLC’s A Passion For Flashn destroyed his rivals in the seventh of 10 Zia Futurity trials on Saturday afternoon at Ruidoso Downs and easily clocked the fastest qualifying time.

All of the trials were for New Mexico-breds and contested over 400 yards.

The top-10 qualifiers from the Zia Futurity trials qualified for the $370,820 Zia Futurity on July 30. It offers the largest purse during the Zia Festival, a celebration of New Mexico-bred racing.

Tempting Star Gazer, under jockey Cipriano Vidana, setting the second fastest time in the opening trial on Saturday.
© Gay Harris / Ruidoso Downs
A Passion For Flashn, a $6,500 Ruidoso Yearling Sale bargain, easily took command of his trial under jockey Mauro Salcedo and drew out to a three-length win in :19.953 for the 400 yards. He was sent off as the 3-5 favorite.

Trained by Martin Orona, Sr., A Passion For Flashn earned that strong favoritism after finishing fourth in the $393,000 Mountain Top Futurity in his previous start.

The First Moonflash-sired colt has two wins from his latest three starts. Out of the Streakin Sixes mare Subtly Sixy, he also won his trial to the Mountain Top Futurity.

A Passion For Flashn was the only horse to race the 400 yards in under 20 seconds. JMH Racing LLC is the breeder.

The next fastest qualifier, Tempting Star Gazer, won the first trial in :20.041 with Cipriano Uscanga Vidana up.

Jessie Lane, under jockey Rodrigo Vallejo, battle Jessa Diva in the fourth trial at Ruidoso Downs. © Gay Harris / Ruidoso Downs
Another offspring of First Moonflash, Tempting Star Gazer was third in the New Mexican Spring Futurity and reached the finals of the Mountain Top Futurity after winning his trial by one-and-three-quarter lengths.

The gelding, out of the Runway Winner mare Most Tempting, is trained by Wes Giles and was a $23,000 Ruidoso Yearling Sale purchase. Tempting Star Gazer was the first of two finalist bred by Mike Abraham.

Jesse Lane was a neck winner in the fourth trial for owner/breeder MJ Farms to get the third fastest time of :20.064 seconds. Judd Kearl conditions the Jesses James Jr gelding out of Champagne Lane by Lanes Leinster.

MJ Farms also bred 5th fastest qualifier Jessa Diva, 6th fastest qualifier Bigg Daddy and 7th fastest qualifier Jesse Klee.

First Moonflash led all sires with five qualifiers and Jesse James Jr sired four.

For a complete list of qualifiers, times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys for the RG1 Zia Quarter Horse Futurity CLICK HERE.

For complete Ruidoso Downs’ information, go to www.raceruidoso.com, visit the Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino Facebook page and follow the Ruidoso Press Box (@RuiPressBox) on Twitter.