Zia Futurity tops stakes-heavy statebred card at Ruidoso Downs

Ruidoso Downs will put the spotlight on New Mexico-breds on Sunday when the track runs nine restricted stakes led by the $400,000 Zia Futurity for Quarter Horses and the $50,000 Land of Enchantment Handicap for Thoroughbreds.

There will be five divisional stakes for Thoroughbreds, each worth $50,000. The four stakes for Quarter Horses also include the $150,000 Zia Derby.

Shining Source is the 123-pound highweight in the Land of Enchantment, a 7 1/2-furlong race run around two turns. It is for 3-year-olds and up and will go with a field of eight. The Land of Enchantment is the ninth race on an 11-race card that starts at 1 p.m. Mountain.

Shining Source will be moving back to two turns following a third-place finish in the O.D. McDonald at seven furlongs last month at The Downs at Albuquerque. The horse has won two stakes around two turns this year, taking the $85,000 New Mexico State University Handicap in March at Sunland Park and the $40,000 Jack Cole in May at SunRay Park.

Blake Rust, who co-owns Shining Source with Barton Ranch Stables, has given the mount to Elvin Gonzalez.

Shining Source has shown versatility in his races, as he won the Jack Cole on the front end but rallied from off the pace in the New Mexico State University Handicap. He could get a tracking trip Sunday behind such rivals as Storm Warrior, Hit a Lick, and perhaps Hush’s Storm.

Shotgun Wedding, who has won five of his last six starts, makes a rare stakes appearance in the Land of Enchantment. He owns the field’s best last-race Beyer Speed Figure, a 74, for his victory in an optional $12,500 claiming race going one mile July 1 at Ruidoso Downs. He is 2 for 2 at the track for Randy Smith and trainer Johnathan Lemons.

In the main event for Quarter Horses, the Zia Futurity, favoritism could lie with fastest qualifier A Passion For Flashn. He won his July 15 trial by 3 1/2 lengths, covering 400 yards in 19.95 seconds. Mauro Salcedo retains the mount for trainer Martin Orona.

Running Dragon, a winner of 10 of 13 starts, leads the Zia Derby.

The Lincoln Handicap, which features fillies and mares at six furlongs, drew co-highweights Diabolical Dame and Bryn’s Fancy Pants. Diabolical Dame boasts a 12-for-21 career record. She was a 6 1/4-length winner of the Lincoln in 2015. In this year’s renewal, she will be making her first start since March, when she was second by a half-length in the $100,000 La Coneja on the undercard of the Sunland Park Derby. She will break from post 7.

Bryn’s Fancy Pants will start from post 8 following her third-place finish in the La Coneja. She has won 7 of 11 starts and last year captured the Sierra Starlet in her lone start at Ruidoso Downs. Bryn’s Fancy Pants opened her career with five consecutive wins.

Both horses are trained by Todd Fincher.