HOBBS, NM—OCTOBER 27, 2016—A total of 131 New Mexico-bred Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses -- two more than last year -- has been entered in Sunday’s New Mexico Cup races at Zia Park.

Purses for the 12 races -- eight for Thoroughbreds and four for Quarter Horses -- will total $2,046,046, once again making New Mexico Cup day the richest state- or province-bred day of racing in North America.

Of the 131 horses entered in the New Mexico Cup races, 89 are Thoroughbreds and 42 are Quarter Horses.

Here is a preview of all 12 races. Post time for the first race is scheduled for 12:15 p.m. (MST).

RACE 1 -- Post time, 12:15
NEW MEXICO CUP 870 CHAMPIONSHIP (R)
3-year-olds & older
Purse, $140,000-guaranteed -- 870 yards

Victor M. Diaz’s Coronas Boy, a homebred 7-year-old gelding by Mr Houston and a two-time winner of this race, is one of 10 distance specialists entered in the 870-yard, $140,000 New Mexico Cup 870 Championship (R).

Coronas Boy has run in this race the last three years, and he won it in 2013 and ’14. Trained by Martin Orona, the gelding is coming off of a neck victory against open company in the 870-yard, $55,000 Herman Jefferson Stakes at Zia Park on October 2.

Coronas Boy drew post 5 and will be ridden by Alejandro Medellin.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds -- Tag Yur It (Ruby Gonzalez), 9-2; Streakin Disre (Ken Tohill), 10-1; Fine Fine Borrachito (Jaime Leos), 8-1; Dark Brook (Alfredo Sigala), 6-1; Coronas Boy (Alejandro Medellin), 3-1; Swiss Chris (Ricardo Jaime), 7-2; Jess Excessive (Jose Enrique Ortiz), 15-1; Dm Ada Kat (J.R. Valenzuela), 12-1; AE-Tormenta Perfecta (Salvador Martinez), 15-1; and Blu Envy (Ruby Gonzalez), 20-1.

RACE 2 -- Post time, 12:41
NEW MEXICO CUP DISTAFF SPRINT STAKES (R)
Fillies & mares, 3-year-olds & older
Purse, $140,000-guaranteed -- 6 furlongs

Diabolical Dame, the 9-5 morning-line favorite and the only entry who has raced outside the state, is one of eight state-bred fillies and mares entered in this 6-furlong stakes.

A $25,000 yearling purchase at the 2013 New Mexico-Bred Sale at Ruidoso Downs, Diabolical Dame has won 10 of her 16 starts, including five stakes, and she has earned $352,280. In her lone start outside of New Mexico, the 4-year-old gray or roan daughter of Diabolical ran fourth in a 6-furlong allowance-optional claiming ($62,500) race at Del Mar on July 27.

Diabolical Dame is trained by Todd Fincher for owners Joe Dee Brooks, Scott Bryant, and Derrol Hubbard. The filly drew post 7 and will be ridden by Tracy Hebert.

Other contenders include Tea Light, a homebred 4-year-old Right Rigger filly trained by Weston Martin for owners Larry Teague and Harry Teague of Hobbs, New Mexico. Tea Light will be making her first start since March 20, when she scored a wire-to-wire, half-length victory in the 5 1/2-furlong, $85,000 La Coneja Stakes (R) at Sunland Park.

Tea Light drew post 5 and will be ridden by Jorge Carreno.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds -- Bloss (Gonzalo Nicolas), 8-1; Renewed Vows (Elvin Gonzalez), 10-1; Blaze To Glory (Ken Tohill), 15-1; Ima Knockout (Miguel Perez), 20-1; Tea Light (Jorge Carreno), 7-2; My Bikini Fell Off (Ry Eikleberry), 3-1; Diabolical Dame (Tracy Hebert), 9-5; and Sassy Silk Pet (Alfredo Juarez Jr.), 6-1.

RACE 3 -- Post time, 1:07
PEPPERS PRIDE NEW MEXICO CUP FILLY & MARE CHAMPIONSHIP (R)
Fillies & mares, 3-year-olds & older
Purse, $170,000-guaranteed -- 1 mile

A & A Equine Inc.’s Amber’s A Player is the 3-1 morning-line favorite for this race.

Trained by Justin Evans, Amber’s A Player was claimed by her current connections for $6,250 out of a 8 3/4-length victory in a two-turn 7-furlong race at SunRay Park on June 4. Since then, the 5-year-old Crafty Player mare has banked $26,170 from four outs, and she won a 6-furlong first-level allowance race at Albuquerque Downs on July 29.

Amber’s A Player will be making her first-ever start against stakes company on Sunday. The mare drew post 3 and will be ridden by Gonzalo Nicolas.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds --- Showtime Magic (Alfredo Sigala), 20-1; Tylers Dixie Chick (Tracy Hebert), 8-1; Amber’s A Player (Gonzalo Nicolas), 3-1; My Dandy Girl (Frank Reyes), 10-1; Zasha (Alfredo Juarez Jr.), 6-1; Stormin Creek (Ry Eikleberry), 5-1; Tricky Trix (Enrique Gomez), 12-1; Another Dandy (Elvin Gonzalez), 15-1; and Desert Stepper (Ken Tohill), 7-2.

RACE 4 -- Post time, 1:33
NEW MEXICO CUP SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP (R)
3-year-olds & older
Purse, $170,000-guaranteed -- 6 furlongs

Michael G. Weatherly’s Not My Note will attempt to extend his win streak in this 6-furlong, $170,000 stakes.

A homebred 4-year-old son of Fusaichi Zenon (JPN) trained by Simon Buechler, Not My Note boasts a two-race win streak that includes a 1 1/2-length victory in the 5 1/2-furlong, $60,000 Casey Darnell Pony Express Stakes (R) at Albuquerque Downs on September 17. The gelding drew post 4 and will be ridden by Tracy Hebert.

Not My Note’s 11 opponents include D E Lover, a 5-year-old gelding by So Long Birdie owned by Leroy Martinez and trainer Tony Sedillo. D E Lover has earned $128,052 from 10 outs this season, and his four wins include a 1 1/2-length victory in the 5 1/2-furlong, $50,000 Sierra Blanca Handicap (R) on July 31, and a 6 3/4-length score in the 6-furlong, $50,000 Ruidoso Thoroughbred Championship Stakes (R) on September 5.

D E Lover will be ridden by Frank Reyes from the rail post.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds -- D E Lover (Frank Reyes), 4-1; Song Of Laura (Gonzalo Nicolas), 6-1; Southern Fire (Elvin Gonzalez), 20-1; Not My Note (Tracy Hebert), 3-1; Mr Ts Fave (Patrick Valenzuela), 30-1; Infinite Bull (Jorge Carreno), 5-1; That’s Who (Ken Tohill), 15-1; Back Seat Thrills (Ry Eikleberry), 10-1; Whatakiss (Miguel Perez), 30-1; Reaper (Alfredo Juarez Jr.), 10-1; Shooter Deluxe (Luis H. Rodriguez), 20-1; and Golly Gee (Enrique Gomez), 8-1.

RACE 5 -- Post time, 1:59
NEW MEXICO CUP OAKS (R)
3-year-old fillies
Purse, $140,000-guaranteed -- 6 furlongs

A full field of 12 state-bred sophomore fillies, topped by morning-line choice Bryn’s Fancy Pants, has been entered in this 6-furlong sprint.

Bryn’s Fancy Pants is a homebred daughter of Southwestern Heat trained by Todd Fincher for owners Dale Taylor, Carey Taylor, and Jon Hogg. The filly has won all five of her outs and has banked $152,100, and her three stakes scores include a convincing 5 1/4-length victory against open company in the 5 1/2-furlong, $50,000 Petticoat Stakes at Albuquerque Downs on July 2.

Bryn’s Fancy Pants drew post 9 and will be ridden by Alfredo Juarez Jr.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds -- Mexican Pharoah (Gonzalo Nicolas), 15-1; Explosive Sky (Enrique Gomez), 10-1; Tijuana (Elvin Gonzalez), 7-2; Sunday Rose (Casey Chavez), 20-1; Love Bug Who (Jesiere Medina), 30-1; Tilla Cat (Tracy Hebert), 9-2; Dust Alert (Jorge Carreno), 20-1; Quinton’s Princess (Jose L. Torres), 30-1; Bryn’s Fancy Pants (Alfredo Juarez Jr.), 2-1; Indian Tiva (Alfredo Triana Jr.), 20-1; Singing Sofia (Ry Eikleberry), 6-1; and Fantastic Party (Ken Tohill), 8-1.

RACE 6 -- Post time, 2:25
NEW MEXICO CUP DERBY (R)
3-year-olds
Purse, $140,000-guaranteed -- 6 furlongs

Stormin The Jewels, a gelded son of Attila’s Storm trained by Fred Danley for John and Sue May’s J & SM Inc. of Fort Stockton, Texas, drew post 10 for this stakes.

Lightly campaigned this season, Stormin The Jewels has earned $92,898 from just three starts, and his resume includes victories in the 5 1/2-furlong, $50,000 Road Runner Handicap (R) at Ruidoso Downs, and the 6 1/2-furlong, $75,000 Casino at The Downs Derby (R) at Albuquerque Downs. The gelding is the 3-1 morning-line favorite and will be ridden by Enrique Gomez.

The complete lineup, including jockey assignments and morning-line odds -- R H Express (Ry Eikleberry), 5-1; Get Er Done (Miguel Perez), 4-1; Forger (Alfredo Juarez Jr.), 6-1; Storm Warrior (Patrick Valenzuela), 30-1; Dyno Dom (Alejandro Medellin), 20-1; Jonesey Who (Ken Tohill), 20-1; Seasalt N Vinegar (Alfredo Triana Jr.), 15-1; Hit A Lick (Gonzalo Nicolas), 10-1; Whitrock (Elvin Gonzalez), 10-1; Stormin The Jewels (Enrique Gomez), 3-1; Pecos Breeze (Jorge Carreno), 30-1; and Ten Penny Cents (Tracy Hebert), 8-1.

RACE 7 -- Post time, 2:51
NEW MEXICO CUP QUARTER HORSE DERBY (RG2)
3-year-olds
Purse, $205,903 -- 440 yards

Datona Doll, a $45,000 yearling buy at the 2014 New Mexico-Bred Sale and the fastest qualifier, is one of 10 state-bred 3-year-olds entered back in this race, run at the classic Quarter Horse distance of 440 yards.

Datona Doll is trained by Trey Wood for owners Mark and Annette McCloy. The Jesse James Jr filly is coming off of a neck victory in the last of three trials on October 16.

Datona Doll has banked $85,248 from five starts this season, and the filly’s resume includes a third-place finish, a head behind winner Gyr Jammer, in the 400-yard, $370,000 Heritage Place Derby (G2) at Remington Park on June 4. She drew post 8 and will be ridden by reigning AQHA champion jockey Ricky Ramirez.

Other contenders include Salvador Nava-Nava’s Air Force Won, a son of champion Ketel Won trained by Guadalupe Chavez. The two-length winner of the June 4, 400-yard Adequan Arapahoe Derby Challenge, the gelding made his New Mexico debut with a second-place finish to Datona Doll in his New Mexico Cup Derby trial.

Air Force Won drew post 9 and will be ridden by Jaime Leos.

The complete lineup, including jockey assignments and morning-line odds -- Chickaloni (Jose Enrique Ortiz), 6-1; Mahallo Moonflash (Raul Hernandez), 15-1; Play Misty Foreme (Esgar Ramirez), 5-1; Flash Theory (Felipe Garcia-Luna), 30-1; A Blazin Flash (Jose Amador Alvarez), 20-1; Frank N Jesse (Adrian Ramos), 12-1; Jess Cruzin On By (Alejandro Medellin), 8-1; Datona Doll (Ricky Ramirez), 3-1; Air Force Won (Jaime Leos), 4-1; and Blazin Moon Force (Edwuin Lujan), 10-1.

RACE 8 -- Post time, 3:17
NEW MEXICO CUP LASSIE STAKES (R)
2-year-old fillies
Purse, $140,000-guaranteed -- 6 furlongs

R.D. Hubbard’s Sippin will risk her undefeated record in this race, which has drawn a full field of 12.

A homebred Swissle Stick filly trained by Todd Fincher, Sippin has won all four of her starts, including two stakes, and her resume includes a 4 1/2-length win against open company in the 6-furlong, $50,000 Permian Basin Stakes at Zia Park on October 10. The filly has banked $133,047.

Sippin drew post 2 and will be ridden by Tracy Hebert. Her 11 opponents include Waltzing Attila, a homebred Attila’s Storm filly trained by Nancy Summers for owners Wesley and Glenda Gray. Waltzing Attila is coming off of a three-length victory at odds of 16-1 in the September 25, 6-furlong New Mexico State Fair Thoroughbred Futurity (R) at Albuquerque Downs.

Frank Reyes will ride Waltzing Attila from post 8.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds -- I’m A Dancin Who (Ruby Gonzalez), 20-1; Sippin (Tracy Hebert), 9-5; Charlie’s Memo (Miguel Perez), 30-1; Sizzle On Home (Jesiere Medina), 30-1; M G M’s Valentine (Elvin Gonzalez), 10-1; Rational Decision (Ry Eikleberry), 9-2; Sheza Snowball (Jorge Carreno), 8-1; Waltzing Attila (Frank Reyes), 7-2; Pink Cadillac (Ken Tohill), 15-1; Vocally (Alfredo Juarez Jr.), 6-1; Fast T B (Francisco Giles), 20-1; and Miss Twister (Gonzalo Nicolas), 20-1.

RACE 9 -- Post time, 3:43
NEW MEXICO CUP JUVENILE CHAMPIONSHIP (R)
2-year-old colts & geldings
Purse, $140,000-guaranteed -- 6 furlongs

Stakes winners Ignored and Thunder Dome are among the 12 colts and geldings entered in this 6-furlong sprint.

A homebred chestnut son of The Way Home, Ignored is trained by Todd Fincher for owners Steve Prather and Bessie Prather of Hobbs, New Mexico. The gelding has banked $162,399 from five outs, and his two stakes wins consist of the May 3, 4 1/2-furlong Copper Top Futurity (R) at Sunland Park, and the 5-furlong, $173,000 Mountain Top Futurity (R) at Ruidoso Downs on July 31.

Ignored drew the rail post and will be ridden by Ruby Gonzalez.

Thunder Dome races for W.D. Carson Sr., M.H. Carson, and Leach Racing from the barn of trainer Dallas Barton. The gelded son of Dome has won two of five starts, including the 5 1/2-furlong, $153,000 Rio Grande Senor Futurity (R) at Ruidoso Downs on July 11, and he has earned $99,483.

Ricardo Jaime will ride Thunder Dome from post 4.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds -- Ignored (Ruby Gonzalez), 4-1; El Tule (Patrick Valenzuela), 12-1; Move Bingham (Jorge Carreno), 10-1; Thunder Dome (Ricardo Jaime), 3-1; Bubba Rain (Ry Eikleberry), 5-1; Happy Hennessy (Enrique Gomez), 30-1; Storming Back (Gonzalo Nicolas), 20-1; Raskateer (Tracy Hebert), 20-1; Casablanca Hot (Francisco Giles), 15-1; Cawboybandido (Alejandro Medellin), 20-1; Indian H Who (Ken Tohill), 6-1; and Another Brother (Alfredo Juarez Jr.), 8-1.

RACE 10 -- Post time, 4:09
NEW MEXICO CUP FUTURITY (RG2)
2-year-olds
Purse, $310,143 -- 400 yards

Running Dragon, a multiple graded stakes winning Zulu Dragon filly owned by the By By JJ Partnership and the second-fastest qualifier, will be seeking her third stakes victory in this race.

Trained by Juan M. Gonzalez, Running Dragon has won six of seven starts and has earned $318,196, and the filly’s record includes victories in the April 24, 300-yard New Mexican Spring Futurity (RG2) at Sunland Park, and the 350-yard, $364,000 Mountain Top Futurity (RG3) at Ruidoso Downs in June. Running Dragon drew post 10 and will be ridden by Adrian Ramos.

The sire Zulu Dragon will also be represented by fastest qualifier Magnifico Dragon, a gelding trained by Cynthia Gonzalez for owner Daniel Balderrama. The runner-up to Mitey Man in the September 24, 400-yard New Mexico State Fair Futurity (R) at Albuquerque Downs, Magnifico Dragon is comign off of a 1 1/2-length win in the sixth of eight trials on October 15.

Magnifico Dragon drew the rail post and will be ridden by Mauro Salcedo.

This year’s New Mexico Cup Futurity purse is 10 percent higher than last year’s purse of $280,801. The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds -- Magnifico Dragon (Mauro Salcedo), 9-2; Es Runnin (Edwin Pena), 30-1; Mitey Man (Edwuin Lujan), 4-1; Jess A Glance (Oscar Cordova), 12-1; You Can Do It Regard (Jaime Leos), 20-1; Scooters Debutant (Benito Baca), 8-1; Cartels Star Daddy (J.R. Valenzuela), 8-1; Kama Strawfly (Salvador Martinez), 20-1; Big Spurs (Alejandro Medellin), 6-1; and Running Dragon (Adrian Ramos), 3-1.

RACE 11 -- Post time, 4:35
NAMEHIMASTREAKER NEW MEXICO CUP QH CHAMPIONSHIP (RG1)
3-year-olds & older
Purse, $170,000-guaranteed -- 440 yards

An overflow field of 12, including two also-eligible entries, has been entered in this race at the classic Quarter Horse distance of 440 yards.

The 3-1 morning-line favorite, Yaneth Cabrera’s Klassic Strawfly will be seeking his fifth consecutive win. Trained by Ernest Fennell, the 10-year-old son of Genuine Strawfly has a four-race winning streak that includes a 1 1/2-length victory in the 400-yard, $30,000 Jimmy Drake Stakes (RG3) at SunRay Park on May 17, and a 1 1/4-length score in the August 28, 440-yard First Moonflash Maturity (R) at Albuquerque Downs.

Klassic Strawfly drew post 6 and will be ridden by Alejandro Medellin. The gelding’s opponents include Whatever Bill, a 9-year-old Southern Corona stallion who brings a three-race winning streak into this stakes. Owned and trained by Jose F. Ramirez Jr., Whatever Bill is coming off of a neck victory in a 400-yard allowance-optional claimer ($40,000) at Zia Park on October 2.

J.R. Valenzuela will ride Whatever Bill from post 5.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds -- Mad About The Moon (Edwuin Lujan), 12-1; Jess Got Issues (Jose Enrique Ortiz), 10-1; Booyah Bay (Oscar Cordova), 15-1; Osbaldo (Ricky Ramirez), 8-1; Whatever Bill (J.R. Valenzuela), 4-1; Klassic Strawfly (Alejandro Medellin), 3-1; Seeyalateralligator (Salvador Martinez), 6-1; Cinco Menudos (Esgar Ramirez), 5-1; Fire Stones (Felipe Garcia-Luna), 20-1; Hot Authorization (Patrick Valenzuela), 20-1; AE-Dungarees Version (Salvador Martinez), 30-1; and Major Bites (Efrain Vigi), 30-1. RACE 12 -- Post time, 5:01
ROCKY GULCH NEW MEXICO CUP CHAMPIONSHIP (R)
2-year-old colts & geldings
Purse, $180,000-guaranteed -- 1 mile

Michael C. Stinson’s Proceed, a 5-year-old stallion by Desert God trained by Joel Marr, drew post 9 and is the 3-1 morning-line favorite for this race, the richest of the eight Thoroughbred stakes on the card.

Proceed has made only two starts this season, but he prepped for this race with a come-from-behind, 1 1/4-length victory in a 1-mile allowance-optional claiming ($40,000) route at Zia Park on October 4. All told, he has won eight of 10 races and has banked $428,729.

Proceed’s six stakes wins include a clear 4 1/2-length score in last year’s 1 1/8-mile, $75,000 Sunland Park Handicap. His winning time of 1:47.37 broke the previous track record set three weeks earlier by Firing Line in the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby. Firing Line went on to run second to eventual Triple Crown winner American Pharoah in the $2-million Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs.

Ken Tohill will ride Proceed from post 9.

Other contenders include Hush’s Storm, a stakes winner during the summer at Ruidoso Downs for owners Dale Taylor, Joe Dee Brooks, and Carey Taylor. Trained by Todd Fincher and an $11,000 yearling purchase at the 2011 New Mexico-Bred Sale, the 6-year-old Attila’s Storm gelding scored a 4 1/4-length win in the 7 1/2-furlong, $50,000 Land of Enchantment Handicap (R) on July 31.

Hush’s Storm drew post 7 and will be ridden by Tracy Hebert.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds -- Streaks Bro (Francisco Giles), 5-1; Weather Dodger (Gonzalo Nicolas), 20-1; Santiago’s Home (Jorge Carreno), 15-1; G M Gage (Ry Eikleberry), 8-1; Citizen Geller (Alfredo Sigala), 12-1; Atillas Gift (Alfredo Juarez Jr.), 6-1; Hush’s Storm (Tracy Hebert), 4-1; Rising Giant (Miguel Perez), 20-1; Proceed (Ken Tohill), 3-1; Mr. Wizard (Patrick Valenzuela), 10-1; The Waki Rapper (Enrique Gomez), 20-1; and Shining Source (Elvin Gonzalez), 30-1.