27-1 Hallmarke Surprises In $50,000 Grade 2 Balloon City Stakes at The Downs In Albuquerque

ALBUQUERQUE, NM–SEPTEMBER 7, 2024–Getting her first win this season Hallmarke (27-1) raced to a one-length win in the Grade 2 $50,000 Balloon City Stakes for fillies and mares 3 and up Saturday at The Downs in Albuquerque.

Jockey Christian Cardenas rode the multiple stakes-winning daughter of Duponte to over 400 yards in 19.494 seconds, equaling a 92-speed index into a 10 mph headwind.

James Gonzales III saddled the winner for owner Laney Fowler. Bobby D. Cox bred Hallmarke from the First Down Dash mare Zenergy in Texas. The $30,000 Balloon winner's purse increases the 5-year-old mare's earnings to $146,409. She won the Cherokee Overnight Stakes at Sandy Ridge at The Red Mile in 2023.

Hallmarke returned $56 to win, $22.40 to place and $10.40 to show.

Runner-up Fine Am Eye earned $10,000 for owner Backdoor Thoroughbreds, LLC. Also from the Gonzales stable, the daughter of leading third-crop sire Eye Am King was bred by MJ Farms from the Tres Seis mare Starsmith. Noe Garcia had the riding call aboard the graded stakes winner of $186,621

Also a graded stakes winner, Woodys Storm finished aneck back to earn $5,000 for third. Trainer Jorge Morales-Flores named jockey Alfredo Sigala to ride the Woodbridge 4-year-old for owner Aldo Pinela. Meluking Ranch LLC bred Woodys Strom in New Mexico from the Jessie James Jr mare Indi Storm. She has earned $132,261.

Cat Got A Diamond, Ezee Monee, First Flashin, Jessapolliticalgirl, Reinas Y Coronas, Kj Wicked Wanda, and Sheza Lil Ponte completed the field.