Stable Notes by Mike Ahrens: Saturday, August 22, 2020
The wind today was mostly tail with the occasional shift to a mild cross-wind, all steady and generally between 6 and 14 mph throughout the card.
Flashing My PJs did have a 14 mph tailwind for the second race, but even with similar tailwinds throughout the day, it was tough for anyone to match her time of 21.203. Finally getting a clean break in the third start of her career, she took charge from the get-go and extended the margin to win by a length and three-quarters over the very good HR Princess Jess despite drifting a bit late. "It's by far the fastest filly I've ever ridden," said Benito Baca. In her preparations for today, she worked 220 yards in 10.97 on August 6th. "When she worked that day my feet were in the dashboard. I had so much horse left. I was hoping that she came back off that work good and she did." Now it's time to just "camp on her," according to trainer John Stinebaugh, in preparation for the finals. "She's just like her momma," he said. "She did it easy."
A horse who did almost match her time was Instygator in the 15th. light brush at the start didn't prevent this gelding from very quickly opening a clear lead which only increased to win by three and a half, despite veering out early then drifting in a bit later. The final time of 21.205 was just two thousand of a second off of Flashing My PJs' mark.
In the seventh race, Eagles and Dragons under Jaime Parga Leos for trainer Juan M. Gonzalez got the job done. Juan Carlos, the trainer's son and assistant, said "He finally ran straight," after the talented and promising gelding had two races where he veered or drifted badly against restricted New Mexico-bred company. After the race, with nine more trials left, Juan Carlos said "It's a long day ahead of us, we're hoping the tailwind eases up a bit. There are good horses coming up, we just have to pray now."
Trainer Eddie Willis had a good day with the aforementioned HR Princess Jess qualifying for the finals as well as Apollitical Gold from the third race.