Daddys Blushing hopes to stay perfect with Mountain Top win

Daddys Blushing will attempt to run his career record to 4 for 4 Saturday, when he takes on fastest-qualifier Flash Moonfire in the $392,586 Mountain Top Futurity for Quarter Horses at Ruidoso Downs.

The race, to be run over 350 yards, is a restricted Grade 3 for 2-year-olds bred in New Mexico. The Mountain Top goes with a field of 10.

Daddys Blushing launched his career April 7 in Texas with a trial win at Sam Houston. He won the $48,000 Sam Houston Juvenile on April 29 before making his way to New Mexico. Daddys Blushing won his Mountain Top trial by 1 1/14 lengths June 2 at Ruidoso, covering 350 yards in 17.83 seconds. It was the fifth-fastest qualifying time behind Flash Moonfire in 17.70.

Daddys Blushing will break from post 3 under regular rider Francisco Calderon. The horse races for Gary Hartstack and is trained by Jackie Riddle.

Flash Moonfire was a $15,000 supplement to the trials for the Mountain Top, according to officials with Ruidoso. He won his June 2 trial by a length. The victory came in the second of 12 trials held for the Mountain Top. Oscar Cordova has the mount from post 9 for David Valdez and trainer Juan Esquivel.

Bigg Daddy was a 2 3/4-lengths winner of his trial for the Mountain Top, covering the distance in 17.79 seconds. It was the second-fastest qualifying time for Saturday. Bigg Daddy is a son of Big Daddy Cartel, the same sire as Daddys Blushing.