First-timer Los Lunas upsets filly division of Arizona Breeders Futurity

PHOENIX - First-timer Los Lunas posted a big upset Saturday at Turf Paradise in the $45,600 Arizona Breeders Futurity filly division, while Jamaican Memories avenged a defeat at the hands of Montellano when winning the $54,179 colt and gelding division.

Los Lunas, owned and bred by Dennis Weir and trained by Sandi Gann, chased pacesetter Hidden Crystal in second in the six-furlong race, continued doggedly after that rival through the final furlong and got up for the neck win under Jake Barton. Hidden Crystal was a game second, 8 1/4 lengths ahead of third-place finisher Maria Lake.

Stormy Crystal, the 6-5 favorite, was well back throughout, finishing sixth in the field of 11 2-year-old Arizona-bred fillies.

Los Lunas ran the distance in 1:10.59 and paid $57.40. She earned the winner’s share of $23,798.

Jamaican Memories, owned by David Calvert and trained by Scott Rollins, had run second to Montellano in a trial for this race here Nov. 12. But that was his first start in five month so he was eligible to improve. With that race under his belt, and blinkers added, improve he did. He sat a couple lengths off pacesetting 3-5 favorite Montellano and finished strongly to roll past that foe and draw away to win by 1 3/4 lengths under Michael Iammarino.

Montellano, who was under pressure throughout, gamely held second, well clear of Lewkacy in third in the field of 12 Arizona-bred 2-year-old males.

Jamaican Memories ran the six furlongs in 1:10.54 and paid $12. The winner’s share of $28,218 pushes his career bankroll to $36,869 from two wins in five starts.