FARMINGTON – A pair of midpriced long shots proved best in both divisions of the $100,000 Jimmy Drake Quarter Horse Stakes on Friday afternoon at SunRay Park and Casino.
Here’s a recap of both stakes races as the fourth weekend of live racing got underway.
Big Crush Bb rolled from his outside post position to post an upset score in Friday’s first division of the $100,000 Jimmy Drake Stakes.
Owned by Javier Chavez and ridden to victory by Emilio Tapia for trainer Jose Ignacio DeHerrera, Big Crush Bb broke alertly from the 10-post in the 400 yard dash and dueled for the early lead with Jess Ring The Bell and jockey Luis Martinez. Big Crush BB quickened his stride inside the final 100 yards to score a convincing three-quarters of a length win, stopping the clock in a quick final time of 19.37 seconds.
The 4-year-old New Mexico-bred son of Big Daddy Cartel earned his first stakes win and was one of two winners on the day for DeHerrera, who also sent out Jesses Wish to victory in the eighth race on the card. Big Crush Bb now has four wins from 16 career starts with earnings approaching $145,500.
Big Crush Bb was coming off a pair of last-place efforts in his most recent outings, most notably in the $100,000 Red or Green Stakes last January at Sunland Park. Sent off at odds of 14.60-to-1, Big Crush Bb returned $31.60 to his winning backers.
Hunky McGoo, ridden by Christian Ramos, rallied late to finish second as part of a blanket finish for minor placings. The $2 exacta with the top two finishers returned $496.
Dean Miracles Vike was third, with post time favorite Hs Paul Walker finishing fourth.
Ridden by Hector Aldrete, Hs Paul Walker had finished first or second in each of his last four starts, including the Red or Green Stakes. He bobbled a bit a coming out of the gate, but put in a late bid, losing by a bit more than a length to the winner.
Dalia Aranda’s Fly On Down posted a minor upset when he was up in the shadow of the wire under jockey Alfredo Sigala in the second division of the Drake Stakes.
Trained by Omar Vargas, Fly On Down had smooth sailing from the start, racing in the middle of the track. He pushed by his pace rivals in the final 110 yards to cross the wire a nose in front, stopping the clock in an impressive final time of 19.25 seconds.
A 5-year-old New Mexico-bred son of One Handsome Man, Fly On Down snapped a four-race losing streak when capturing the win on Friday. Most recently, he was fourth, beaten less than a length in the Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap at Sunland Park on Feb. 11.
Fly On Down earned his sixth win from 23 career starts and has amassed earnings of more than $255,000.
Sent off at odds of 4.10-to-1, Fly On Down paid back $10.20 to his winning backers. No Mires A La Luna finished second with Noe Garcia, Jr. aboard. The $2 exacta with the top two finishers returned $68.40.
Post time favorite River Flash, ridden by Adrian Ramos for trainer Wes Giles, finished third when making his first start in more than seven months. The Calling, ridden by Angel Marquez, rounded out the top four finishers.
Jockey Porfirio Cano had a riding double on the Friday program, winning the second race aboard Bf Jessrageous for trainer Filiberto Quiroz before riding 10th race winner Imalotofeffort to victory for trainer Oscar Carrete.
Live racing at SunRay Park continues Saturday with a 10-race all-thoroughbred card that has a first post time of 2:15 p.m. The SunRay Park and Casino season continues through Sunday, May 21.
