Shotgun Wedding takes Land of Enchantment Handicap on card dedicated to New Mexico-breds

Shotgun Wedding shot up the rail for a two-length win over Hush’s Storm in the $50,000 Land of Enchantment, one of nine New Mexico-bred stakes on the Sunday card at Ruidoso Downs. It was another 3 3/4 lengths back in third to Go For a Stroll, who is a half-brother to Shotgun Wedding.

Ruidoso put on five stakes for Thoroughbreds, each worth $50,000, and four stakes for Quarter Horses. The richest race on the program was the $370,820 Zia Quarter Horse Futurity won by Bigg Daddy ($5.60).

Shotgun Wedding ($8.40) sat off fractions of 24.61 seconds for the opening quarter and 48.78 for the half-mile before moving to the fore in the stretch and going on to cover the seven and a half furlongs run around two turns in 1:32.35.

Frank Reyes was aboard Shotgun Wedding for Randy Smith and trainer Johnathan Lemons.

Shotgun Wedding was winning his third straight race and his first in a stakes. He is a son of Weather Warning. Shotgun Wedding and Go For a Stroll, who race for different connections, are both out of the mare Garter, and both were bred by R.D. Hubbard.

In the other Thoroughbred stakes, Diabolical Dame ($4.20) improved her career record to 13-for-22 when she stalked and went on to a 3 3/4-length win over Tilla Cat in the $50,000 Lincoln Handicap. She covered six furlongs on a fast track in 1:09.65. The winner is a daughter of Diabolical.

Waltzing Attila ($4) was a 2 3/4-length winner of the Sierra Starlet, covering 5 1/2 furlongs for 3-year-old fillies in 1:05.12.

D E Lover ($8.80) accounted for the $50,000 Sierra Blanca Handicap, winning the 5 1/2-furlong race in 1:03.10.

Mr. Mooch ($12.20) led throughout for a 1 1/2-length win over Thunder Dome in the $50,000 Road Runner Handicap, covering 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:03.53.

In the Quarter Horse action, Bigg Daddy went wire-to-wire in the Zia Futurity, winning by three-quarters of a length. He covered 400 yards in 19.92 seconds. G.R. Carter, Jr., was aboard for Too For Two and trainer Wes Giles. The race was a restricted Grade 1.

Percyjones ($4.20) darted to a length win over Running Dragon in the $176,005 Zia Quarter Horse Derby. Ricky Ramirez was aboard the winner for trainer Trey Wood. The race was a restricted Grade 2.

Coronas Boy ($15) won the first stakes on the card, the 870-yard Championship that had a purse of $50,000.

First Kool Moon ($24.60) was a neck winner of the $30,000 Zia Handicap.