Jrc Callas First seeks fifth straight win in Championship

Sunland Park was scheduled to close out 2015 with its most prestigious race for Quarter Horses, but a snowstorm forced the cancellation of last weekend’s card, and the New Mexico track instead will start the year with its Grade 1, $350,000 Championship on Sunday.

The 400-yard Championship goes with the original draw, led by reigning world champion Jrc Callas First. Others making up the 10-horse field include Mad About the Moon, the runner-up in the 2014 All American Futurity, and Zoomin Effortlessly, a winner of his last five starts, including the Grade 1 Refrigerator at Lone Star Park.

The Championship anchors a card of four Quarter Horse stakes worth a combined $770,000. Among the other stakes on the program is the inaugural $250,000 Winter Championship Invitational.

Jrc Callas First is seeking to win his fifth straight race. His streak started in a June 26 stakes at Retama Park. He won an additional stakes at the San Antonio-area track before accounting for the inaugural $200,000 Fall Championship at The Downs at Albuquerque and the Grade 1 Zia Park Championship in his most recent start Nov. 25.

Jrc Callas First races for Dana and Brian Stroud. Damian Martinez has the mount from post 7 Sunday.

The Winter Championship was carded for 2-year-olds, but with the calendar change Friday, all of the starters now are 3. The 400-yard race pits Heritage Place Futurity winner Bv Midnite Express against Hobbs America Futurity winner Game Changes. Others making up the 11-horse field include the stakes winners Good Job Honey and Queen Arabella.

Astica, who won six straight races in 2015, will be looking to get back in the win column in the $85,000 Lou Wooten and Sydney Valentini Handicap. She comes off a neck loss. D E Wagons Strawfly is the 128-pound highweight for the $85,000 Challenger Six Handicap.

Trainer Draper dead at 76

Carl Draper, a prominent member of the Quarter Horse community who trained two All American Futurity winners, died at his New Mexico home late last month following a heart attack, according to a release from Ruidoso Downs. He was 76.

“He was training and helping with the horses up until the end,” said daughter Robyne Draper.

Carl Draper won the All American Futurity in 2007 with eventual champion Heartswideopen and in 2004 with eventual world champion Dm Shicago. He is a member of the Ruidoso Downs Hall of Fame. Draper also trained the champion P J Chick In Black.