El Vital Scores His First Stakes Victory With An Upset In The $150,000 NM Classic 870 Stakes [G3]
HOBBS, NM–DECEMBER 15, 2024–The first race of the loaded stakes card at Zia Park kicked off on Sunday with El Vital, a 19-1 outsider, scoring the upset in the $150,000 New Mexico Classic 870 Stakes [G3].
With Felipe Valdez in the irons, El Vital took the lead at first call and kept it all the way around the hook to the wire. The son of Mr Special Cartel clocked a 107-speed index against a ten mph headwind in 44.308 seconds. The longshot's 870-yard victory paid $41.20 for the win, $15.40 to place, and $5.00 to show.
Heza Classy Now, piloted by Bryan Candanosa, made a late gain at the wire just behind El Vital for second by a neck. Post-time favorite Fast Flashn and jockey Alfredo Juarez Jr chased the top two, finishing third by 4 1/2 lengths ahead of the rest of the field.
El Vital's $88,200 victory payday boosted his lifetime earnings to $237,277 for Aldavaz Hermenegildo, who trains, owns and bred the six-year-old gelding. He improved his record to 5-3-1 from 20 starts, which include a fourth-place finish in the New Mexico Classic Cup 870 Championship [G3] and Starr Western Wear Stakes (twice).
El Vital was bred by Hermenegildo in New Mexico out of multiple winner and stakes finalist Wdc Vital Sound by Brookstone Bay.
Trainer Freed Danley saddled runner-up Heza Classy Now for owners-breeders Bob and Sissie McClure of New Mexico. The six-year-old gelding has lit the board 21 or 30 starts with six wins and $220,192 in the bank.
Heza Classy Now has competed in multiple stakes events, including a victory in the Bill Reed Memorial and second-place finishes in the Zia 870 Championship Stakes (twice) and Devil His Due Stakes. The son of Rock Solid Jess is out of Shez Classy Now by Now I Know.
Fast Flashn has four wins from 19 starts with $154,856. The son of A Passion For Flashn was a finalist in the First Moonflash Maturity-G2 and Zia Stakes-G2 earlier this season.
J.J. Gonzalez, III conditioned Fast Falshn for owner Billy Tarango. Bob and Sissie McClure bred the four-year-old gelding in New Mexico out of the Louisiana Senator mare Hope Sheza Fast.
Jess A Outlaw, Freedom Flash, Rig Countess, Holland Rock and Classy Moon round out the order of finish.
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