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Call Me A Blazn Chic is Prompt Favorite in Rich New Mexico Cup Futurity

Hobbs, NM – Oct. 30, 2011 - Sixth-fastest qualifier Call Me A Blazn Chic scored one of her richest career victories in Sunday's 400-yard, $330,643 New Mexico Cup Futurity (RG2) at Zia Park.

Saddled by Roberto Sanchez and ridden by Vicente Grajeda for Javier Marquez's J & M Racing and Farm at Monahans, Texas, Call Me A Blazn Chic went 400 yards in :19.046, earning a 102 speed index and breaking by 93/1000ths of a second the previous stakes record set by Streak Of Sixes last year. The filly's winning margin was a neck from PK Bay.

Call Me A Blazn Chic was coming off of a second-place finish to PK Bay in the last of seven trials on October 15. Grajeda also rode the filly in her trial.

“The first time I'd ever ridden this filly in a race was her trial, and I really wasn't that familiar with her – I'd only backtracked her one time before,” said Grajeda, who had returned to New Mexico after riding Ocean Fun to a half-length victory in Saturday's $75,000 Pfizer Starter Allowance Challenge Championship at Los Alamitos. “Today, I was more prepared and more familiar with her running style, and she got the job done.

“She was also a little anxious in the gate in her trial, but she stood there like a champ today,” added the rider.

J & M Racing and Farm acquired Call Me A Blazn Chic from breeder Mike Abraham for $15,000 at last year's New Mexico-Bred Yearling Sale at Ruidoso Downs. Campaigned exclusively in New Mexico, the filly has won two of seven races, including the July 31, $384,031 Zia Futurity (RG2) at Ruidoso Downs, and the $158,709 winner's share of the New Mexico Cup purse pushed her bankroll to $353,839.

Call Me A Blazn Chic also was a finalist in the $286,609 Mountain Top Futurity (RG2) at Ruidoso on June 19.

Call Me A Blazn Chic was sent to post as the 2-1 favorite and returned a $6.60 win mutuel. The filly teamed with 3-1 second choice PK Bay for a $28 ($2) exacta.

Fly Olivia Fly, Gotta Get Two, fastest qualifier Call A Fast Corona, My Soul Mate, Caught On Tape, Erasmus B Dragon, Secrets Turning, and Fleurs Corona completed the order of finish.

The New Mexico Cup Futurity was just one of four Quarter Horse stakes for state-breds contested on New Mexico Cup Day. A recap of the other races follows:


NEW MEXICO CUP 870 CHAMPIONSHIP
Bullets Brother

Bullets Brother broke sharply from post 6 and scored a half-length victory in the $140,240 New Mexico Cup 870 Championship (R).

Racing for Veronica O. Gonzalez and trainer Martin Orona Sr., Bullets Brother went 870 yards in :45.350 under jockey Roman Chapa, who was riding the 7-year-old gelding by Real Runaway for the first time in a race.

Bullets Brother was bred by Joe W. Alexander. The gelding's sire, Real Runaway, was a finalist in the 1996 Ruidoso Futurity (G1) and '97 Rainbow Derby (G1).

Bullets Brother was making his first start since July 31, when he ran second, one length behind BRT Opulence, in the $50,000 Zia 870 Championship (R) at Ruidoso Downs. A one-time $10,000 claimer, the gelding has won 12 of 36 races and has earned $407,851, of which $149,174 has been banked this season.

South Oak, the 5-2 favorite, ran second and was followed by BRT Opulence, Klassic Strawfly, KC Royal Flush, Lalumbredelospateres, Whata Lucky Man, and defending New Mexico Cup 870 Championship winner Littlesouthernswing.


NAMEHIMASTREAKER NEW MEXICO CUP QUARTER HORSE CHAMPIONSHIP (RG1)
Down With You

Ricky Ramirez rode Down With You to a neck victory in the 440-yard, $170,480 New Mexico Cup Quarter Horse Championship (RG1).

Trained by Paul Jones for owners R.D. and Joan Dale Hubbard, Down With You made his quarter-mile trip in :21.301 and posted a 96 speed index. The win marked the 4-year-old gelding's first stakes score and first victory in seven outs at the 440 distance.

Down With You was bred by Joan Dale Hubbard. The 4-year-old gelding's sire, the late The Down Side, was the upset winner of the 2003 Champion of Champions (G1) at Los Alamitos.

Down With You has four of 15 starts, including a 350-yard, $36,000 allowance sprint for New Mexico-breds at Sunland Park on December 22. The $102,000 winner's share of the New Mexico Cup Championship purse boosted his earnings to $204,084.

Down With You's stakes resume also includes a third-place finish in last year's 440-yard, $194,054 New Mexico Cup Derby (RG2) at Zia Park.

Jenuine Joy, a five-time stakes winner and the 5-2 favorite, ran second, a nose in front of third-place Miracle Snow. Yayo and Dueling Juan finished in a dead heat for fourth, and were followed by A Streak Again, One Diamond Kitty, Caliente Tyger, A First Caller, and CP Lawman.

NEW MEXICO CUP DERBY (RG2)
Quatro Menudos

Fastest qualifier and even-money favorite Quatro Menudos sprinted to a hard-fought win in the $195,186 New Mexico Cup Derby (RG2).

Ridden by Salvador Martinez for trainer Hermenegildo “Poppy” Aldavaz, Quatro Menudos covered 440 yards in :21.145 to earn a 101 speed index and break the previous stakes record of :21.255 set in 2010 by Corona Memory Crest. The gray gelding's winning margin was a neck from second-fastest qualifier Brookstone Flash.

Quatro Menudos is a homebred gelding who has banked $276,404 for his owners, William P. McCarty, Paul Wood, and SW Paving & Grading Inc. Quatro Menudo's sire, Furyofthewind, is a stakes-winning 8-year-old son of Corona Cartel and 1986 AQHA champion sophomore filly Dashing Phoebe.

Quatro Menudos was coming off of a nose victory over Brookstone Flash in the first of three New Mexico Cup Derby trials on October 16. All told, he has won six of seven races, including the 400-yard, $313,502 Shue Fly Stakes (RG2) at Sunland Park on New Year's Day.

New Mexico Streaker, Wilmon, Viva La Moon, Mas Frijoles, Pakea Bay, Special Vartanash, Leave N Legal, and Wok Of Fame completed the order of finish.