Big Moon Dawg, under jockey Alejandro Medellin., winning the Grade 2 AQHA Downs at Albuquerque Distance Challenge Stakes Sunday.

© Coady Photography

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – SEPTEMBER 24, 2023 – Big Moon Dawg took the lead early from the rail and led gate-to-wire in the $56,100 Albuquerque Distance Challenge (G2), the feature race of the Sunday afternoon card in Albuquerque.

Alejandro Medellin guided Big Moon Dawg ($9.80) to a two-length win and covered the 870 yards in :45.569. He earned an 86 speed index in his first career stakes win.

Big Moon Dawg is a 3-year-old gelded son of First Moonflash and out of the Hennessy mare Bundle Doe, bred in New Mexico by her owner, Steve Berry. He is trained by Armando Alamos.

He attempted 870 yards for the first time in March at Sunland and is now two for five at the distance and has finished second twice. Big Moon Dawg is two for 12 lifetime with $64,732 in earnings, including the winner’s share of $29,172 from Sunday’s stake.

The winning connections of Big Moon Dawg accept the AQHA Downs at Albuquerque Distance Challenge Stakes trophy. © Coady Photography

Post-time favorite Volcoms Favorite finished second for trainer James Gonzales, III with Gerardo Vera in the irons. The gelded son of Jess Good Candy is graded stakes placed in his first career stakes start.

Nove Racing, LLC’s Volcoms Favorite has only finished out of the money in one of his seven starts this year and has three wins and $74,563 from 14 lifetime starts. He won an allowance at Remington this spring followed by two runner-up finishes in allowance races in New Mexico prior to Sunday’s start.

George Mitchell, II bred the 4-year-old in Oklahoma, out of the staked placed Volcom mare Volcoms Delight.

Stolin Train and Jesus Virgen completed the trifecta for trainer Scott Goodrich and Goodrich Quarter Horses. The 7-year-old gelding won the Wyoming Downs Distance Challenge in June and is now graded stakes placed. He was earnings of $73,676 and three wins from 31 career starts.

The son of Desirio was bred in Utah by The Running A LLC, out of Stoli Girl, by Stoli.

Completing the field were A Rebels Revenge and Discodancinpatriot.