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© Coady Photography
ALBUQUERQUE, NM—SEPTEMBER 24, 2016— Mitey Man, the fastest qualifier and 6-5 favorite, rewarded his connections with a three-quarter length victory in Saturday’s $241,168 New Mexico State Fair Quarter Horse Futurity (RG3) for state-bred 2-year-olds at Albuquerque Downs.
Racing for Bobby Simmons of Midland, Texas, and aided by a reported 10-mph tail wind, Mitey Man covered 400 yards in :19.691 while earning his first stakes score. Edwuin Lujan rode the gelded son of champion First Moonflash for trainer Trey Wood.
Debra Laney of Las Cruces, New Mexico bred Mitey Man. The gelding was coming off of a 2¼-length win in the second of five trials on September 9. He has won three of five starts, and the $120,584 winner’s share of the New Mexico State Fair Futurity purse bumped his bankroll to $128,464. He is out of the Yawls Rabbit mare Neons Miracle.
Magnifico Dragon, a 26-1 longshot, ran second. The son of first crop sire Zulu Dragon races for owner Daniel Balderrama and trainer Cynthia Gonzalez. Mauro Salcedo had the riding call aboard the Heriberto Moreno New Mexico-bred. Out of the Magnificence mare Cassies Mag, he earned $48,234 for the effort.
Also a son of First Moonflash, A Sure First picked up $28,940 for finishing third. Ross Amestory trains the gelding, out of Sure That’s Hot by Walk Thru Fire, for owners Pierre and Leslie Amestoy, Jr. Mike Abraham is the breeder.
© Coady Photography
One of the world’s oldest stakes races for Quarter Horses, the New Mexico State Fair was contested for the 71st time on Saturday. Past winners of the stakes, which was first run in 1946, include American Quarter Horse Association champions Pelican, Maddon’s Bright Eyes, Black Easter Bunny, Now I Know, and First Moonflash.
NOTES FROM THE DOWNS: Albuquerque Downs will end its 60-day season with a 11-race program featuring four stakes -- three for Quarter Horses and one for Thoroughbreds -- beginning at 1:30 p.m. (MDT).
Albuquerque Downs Racetrack and Casino is located in the heart of Albuquerque at Expo New Mexico, the home of the New Mexico State Fair. For more information, visit abqdowns.com and click on the “Racetrack” link at the top of the homepage.