Weekend Wrap-Up by Mike Ahrens: July 31 - August 2, 2020

Sunday featured two stakes for quarter horses, the Bobby Dan Crenshaw Memorial going 1000 yards for three-year-olds and upward and the Mr Jet Moore Handicap going 400 yards also for three-year-olds and upward.

In the Bobby Dan Crenshaw, Breaking New Ground was quick to the lead breaking from post position two under Alfredo Juarez, extended the margin into the turn, and held off the late gaining Shangroyal. It was the quarter horse's second win from five lifetime starts going around a turn, with two second-place finishes by a neck and a third beaten three-quarters of a length. Trainer Todd Fincher said of the move to longer races around the turn, and his first at the extended 1000-yard distance: "He's not good enough to run handicap races going short, and I knew he'd like the distance. Alfredo did a good job." Fincher had a big double of sorts when earlier in the card his son Tanner earned his first victory as a rider in the third race aboard Cool And Quick for trainer Jose R. Gonzalez, Jr.

The Mr Jet Moore was won by Valiant Tiberias, who broke on top and established command, drifted out just a bit in mid-stretch but held well. The winner of the Championship at Sunland over Danjer back in December, the four-year-old gelding from the barn of Wes Giles now has seven wins from 16 lifetime starts. SC Money Maker, winner of the Hi Easter Jet Handicap here back in June, chased that one the whole way to get second.

This morning's training continued to see runners preparing for the big races ahead, with Michael Joiner sending out several contenders for the All American Futurity and Derby trials and also the return to Ruidoso of Dean Frey's star older horse, Danjer, who broke off at the pole to work 220 yards in an eye-catching 10.89. Joiner had a couple sets break from the gates and work 330 yards, with Famous Shining Star between stablemates Lady La Belle and Winnie Jones edging clear to beat the latter about half a length in 16.95 while Lady La Belle weakened a bit late. Later in the morning Famous Cartel thoroughly outworked stablemate Tuckk in 16.91 with Miss Candy Mountain further back in third. Oatman Creek Senator worked from the pole and went fairly easy to get 220 in 11.40.