Powerhouse Flash Bak Handily Wins the $40,000 Mr Jet Moore Stakes [G2]

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM–JULY 27, 2024–Once again, seasoned track veteran Flash Bak proves much the best after winning the $40,000 Mr Jet Moore Stakes [G2] at the Downs at Albuquerque on Saturday.

Regular rider Francisco Calderon got the leg up aboard Flash Bak for the 400-yard victory. The son of Moonin The Eagle clocked a 99 speed index in 19.193 seconds. Second out of the gates, he caught the lead against a 10 mph headwind at the final stretch for a 1/2-length win over Out Of The Way.

Flash Bak earned $24,000 for his victory, and the heavy favorite's effort paid $3.00 on 1-2 odds. Trainer Heath Taylor conditions the six-year-old gelding for owner Valeriano Racing Stables LLC.

Flash Bak has battled against the best of the best, including a victory over world champion Empressum in this year's Championship at Sunland Park [G1] and last year's Champion of Champion Stakes [G1] at Los Alamitos. He also beat All American Futurity [G1] winner KJ Desperado in the Downs at Albuquerque Fall Championship Stakes [G1] and Los Alamitos $2 Million Futurity [G1] winner Apollitical Patty in the Los Alamitos Super Derby [G1].

The powerhouse lit the board 26 of 32 starts with 13 wins and nearly $2.1 million in earnings. Flash Bak has won seven prestigious graded stakes races and seven Grade 1 stakes placed titles. Bred by Jim Streelman and Bill Dale, the sorrel gelding out of Checknbac by Check Him Out is a $38,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale graduate.

Omar Vargas saddled runner Up Out Of The Way for owners Leslie and Pierre Amestoy and Roger Beasley. The stakes-winning son of First Moonflash has a record of 4-3-5 from 15 starts with $81,110 in the bank. Wes Giles saddle the four-year-old colt bred by Silver Racing Farm LLC in California. The sorrel colt out of Coronas Fast Honey by Corona Cartel was a $100,000 repurchase in this year's Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale.

Fdd Cloud, piloted by Jacob Enriquez, placed third. The three-time stakes winner has five career wins with $252,693 in earnings. Bred by Mercy Hinklins Horse Farm LLC in Texas, the son of FDD Going Grand is out of A Noble Jess Elie by Jess Elie. Omar Vargas trains the sorrel colt for owner Aurelio Juarez.

Mr Dash Fire, Wildroses101, Quint, Pevs Charley and Whiskey Creek complete the order of finish.

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Live racing returns to the Downs at Albuquerque on Sunday with a 12-race card with five stakes, including the Grade 1 $350,000 Rainbow QH Oaks and the restricted Grade 1 $358,451 Zia QH Futurity. The first post is at 12:30 p.m. (MDT).