Racing


First Neon Moon Gets First Stakes Win In NMHBA Quarter Horse Stakes at Sunland Park
First Neon Moon, under jockey Raul Herrera, drives to victory in the $100,000-Guaranteed NMHBA Quarter Horse Sakes(RG2) Saturday afternoon at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino.

© Coady Photography
First Neon Moon Gets First Stakes Win In NMHBA Quarter Horse Stakes at Sunland Park

SUNLAND PARK, NM—FEBRUARY 15, 2020—First Neon Moon (14-1) held off a late charge from Jess Featured Girl to get his first career stakes win in the $100,000-Guaranted NMHBA Quarter Horse Sakes(RG2) Saturday afternoon at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino.

Ridden by jockey Raul Herrera, the 3-year-old First Moonflash colt, completed the 400 yards in :19.384 seconds, equaling a 92 speed index with a 14 mph tailwind. It was the third career win in eight starts for the gray colt. The $60,000 winners' purse boosted First Neon Moon's earnings total to $107,560.

Martin Orona, Sr. conditions First Neon Moon for owner Victor Lozano. Bred in New Mexico by Maegan Cavasos, First Neon Moon is out of the Chicks A Blazin mare My Soul Mate. Last season he was a finalist in both the New Mexico Classic Futurity(RG2) and the Southwest Juvenile Invitational Championship(G2) at Zia Park.

Pete Herrera, long-time AP sports writer, presents the winning connections of First Neon Moon the NMHBA Quarter Horse Stakes trophy Saturday afternoon at Sunland Park Race Track and Casino. © Coady Photography
Jess Featured Girl, bobbled the start under jockey Paul Garcia, just missing but still earned $20,000 for her second-place effort. Racing for owner Sandra Bean and trainer Danny Urista, the Tf Featured Effort filly was fourth in the RG3 Shue Flye Stakes in her last start.

Bred by Cynthia Dick, from the Mr Jess Perry mare Jess Adoration, Jess Feather Girl has banked $83,694.

Close throughout, Six Pack Fame was a neck back in the blanket finish to earn $10,000 for third. Sergio Becerra, Jr. rode the Jesse James Jr gelding out of Sandys Fame, by Dash Ta Fame, for owner Diamond Racing Stables.

Ramon Mendoza trains the sorrel gelding bred in New Mexico by MJ Farms. Third in the Zia Quarter Horse Futurity(RG1) at Ruidoso Downs and the New Mexican Spring Futurity(RG2) at Sunland Park last season, Six Pack Fame has earned $117,389.

First Neon Moon returned $29.60 to win, $14.80 to place and $6.40 to show.

Stominado, Runner Chick, Champagne Room, Meleros Dash, Don Chuy C, Jess Tequila Talkin and Finnley completed the field.