Thunder Dome looks for fourth Rocky Gulch New Mexico Cup

There’s been one constant with the New Mexico Cup program through the years at Zia Park – the presence of Thunder Dome.

He’s made seven appearances in the series for New Mexico-breds dating back to 2016 and on Monday will be shooting for his fourth win in the Rocky Gulch New Mexico Cup Championship.

The $200,000 race for 3-year-olds and up at one mile and 70 yards is the co-richest of eight stakes worth more than $1.3 million. The $200,000 Peppers Pride is for fillies and mares and it’s led by Corrina Corrina.

Zia has traditionally run the New Mexico Cup on a single card that featured stakes for both Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses. But this year the breeds will run on separate programs, as the series is being run later than its usual end of October.

The Quarter Horses were to have run Sunday, with the Thoroughbreds on Monday and the Land of Enchantment card Tuesday in the most important stretch of racing this meet at Zia.

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Despite the New Mexico Cup changes, there is consistency with Thunder Dome. The 9-year-old gelding won the Rocky Gulch in 2018, 2020, and 2022 and he appears to be coming into another big effort for longtime trainer Dallas Barton.

Thunder Dome was beaten less than a length for everything last out when fourth in an allowance at one mile and 70 yards at Zia on Nov. 6. Since the race, he’s worked a bullet half-mile in 47.91 seconds on Nov. 18. Alfredo Juarez Jr. has the mount from post 2 in the field of 10. The group includes the first- and second-place finishers from the race Thunder Dome exits, McThanks and Comet Causey.

Thunder Dome is a son of the Storm Cat stallion Dome and his dam, Lauren Lynn, is by the stallion Hadif. He has won 14 races from 59 starts for earnings of $880,112 and races for the partnership of Mike Carson and Bill Carson.

Corrina Corrina tests streak

The Peppers Pride, which is the female counterpart to the Rocky Gulch, drew a strong favorite in Corrina Corrina. She will be looking for her fifth straight win when she starts in the one-mile race that she captured in 2022.

Corrina Corrina has built her current streak in New Mexico, taking the $50,000 Lincoln in July at Ruidoso, a $75,000 overnight stakes at the same track in September, the $100,000 Salazar by double digits in late September at the Downs at Albuquerque, and the local allowance prep Nov. 7 at Zia Park.

Corrina Corrina has tactical speed and could be somewhat prominent on the move back to two turns for the Peppers Pride. Tracy Hebert has the mount from post 2 for trainer Gary Cross. Derrick Jenkins bred and owns the daughter of Mr. Trieste, a winner of 10 of 22 starts for earnings $635,070.

Juvenile rematch

Community Leader will attempt to turn the tables on the unbeaten Milk It in the $150,000 Juvenile at six furlongs. The pair met last out at Albuquerque, with Milk It winning the New Mexico State Fair Futurity by three-quarters of a length over Community Leader on Oct. 15.

Community Leader is a multiple stakes winner who is 5 for 6. He did not have the clearest sailing in the State Fair.

“He didn’t get out of the gate and had to play catch up,” said Fincher, who trains Community Leader.

“That Milk It is a really nice horse.”

Fincher’s many contenders

Fincher sends out a trio of fillies in the $150,000 Lassie: Way to Rule, Payingoffmymarker, and Make Up a Story.

The trainer also has four starters in the $150,000 Sprint, which drew a field of 11. His trainees, Diabolical Storm, Evacuee, Massive Roar, and One Mark, bring different running styles into the six-furlong race.

“We’ve got some that want to be close to the pace and some that want to come off the pace,” said Fincher.

Massive Roar will start as a chief contender off a runner-up finish in the local allowance prep in which he raced with the pace. One Mark was just edged in stakes company last time, closing from off the pace. He, too, should get good support Monday.

◗ Bella Dona seeks her third New Mexico Cup win on Monday in the Distaff Sprint at six furlongs, following her victories in the Lassie and Oaks. She is 12 for 16.

◗ Fincher trainee Sambas Mark will be seeking his third straight win when he starts in the $150,000 Derby at six furlongs. His chief rival appears to be Let Him Be, winner of the Casino at the Downs at Albuquerque Derby for trainer Joel Marr.

◗ Better Believe is the one to catch in the $150,000 Oaks at six furlongs off her wire-to-wire win in the Petticoat at Albuquerque. “She’s super fast,” said Fincher.

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