Mister Lights Out Rallies To Win $40,000 Sandia Stakes At Albuquerque

Mister Lights Out rallied from just off the pace to capture the $40,000 Sandia Stakes at The Downs at Albuquerque on Saturday evening, defeating a field of seven Quarter Horses competing at 870 yards.

Ridden by Oscar Andrade Jr., the four-year-old gelding broke fourth before moving into contention behind early leader Eb Famous King. Racing five wide around the turn, Mister Lights Out surged past the pacesetter in the stretch to score a 1 1/4-length victory. The 4-5 favorite stopped the clock in :45.292 over a fast track, earning a 91 speed index.

Mister Lights Out is a homebred for Randy Coleman, Gary Willingham and Ross Roark and is trained by Renee Wilson. The gelding was a $35,000 repurchase at the 2023 Heritage Place Yearling Sale. He is sired by All American Futurity (G1) runner-up The Marfa Lights and is out of the winning Tres Seis mare Tres Copauino.

The victory improved Mister Lights Out's career record to 14-4-2-1, and the $19,600 winner's share of the purse boosted his lifetime earnings to $933,301. Earlier this season, he finished fourth in the Walter Merrick Stakes, and last year, he placed third in the All American Invitational Stakes.

Eb Famous King finished second under Miguel Perez for owner Michael Martinez and trainer Mike Archuleta. Breaking sharply from the inside post, the gelding established the early pace and maintained a narrow advantage through the turn before being overtaken by the winner. He held second by 4 1/4 lengths, completing the distance in :45.516.

Bred by Olaya Munoz Duarte, Eb Famous King is sired by leading sire Eye Am King, whose progeny have earned more than $15 million, including over $2.1 million this year alone. He is out of the One Famous Eagle mare One Famous Gal. Eb Famous King now has a career record of 17-5-1-1 with $71,125 in earnings.

Into Celebrating rounded out the trifecta under Cerapio Figueroa for owner Ruse Ranch LLC and trainer Samuel Mendoza. The colt settled off the early pace before advancing into third around the turn. Racing four wide, he weakened in the stretch but held third by three-quarters of a length, stopping the clock in :46.266.

Bred by Larry Morehead and Xcel Farms, Into Celebrating is an $87,000 graduate of the 2023 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. He is sired by champion Thoroughbred sire Into Mischief and is out of the winning Corona Cartel mare Celebratori, a half-sister to champion Wahoo ($166,425), winner of the Pauls Valley Handicap (G3).

His distinguished female family also includes Broodmare of the Year Fitting Celebration ($47,775), champion Brimmerton ($519,538), winner of the All American Derby (G1), champion Duponte ($921,237), and dam of distinction Havanah Goodtime.

Coming off a victory in the G.C.F.A. All Breeds 870 Stakes, Into Celebrating now has a career record of 13-2-1-2 and $36,889 in earnings.

Daycruiser finished fourth, followed by Hezamonzter, The Patriot Berna and Ahsome Blossom.

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