Running Dragon wins Shue Fly Stakes

Jan 15, 2017

Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino
Saturday, January 15, 2017
by Eric Alwan


Running Dragon speeds away to win $205,974 Shue Fly


In a flawless performance, Running Dragon sped away to a convincing win in the 45th running of the $205,973 Shue Fly Stakes on Sunday at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino.

RUNNING-DRAGON-The-Shue-FlyWith Adrian A. Ramos at the helm, Running Dragon broke well and confronted top qualifier Magnifico Dragon early on in the 400 yard stakes for New Mexico-bred foals of 2014. Running Dragon powered past her rival in mid-stretch to win by a half-length. She caught the 400 yards in 19.416 seconds over a muddy track, good for a 92 speed index. The second favorite paid $6.80 to win.

The New Mexican Spring Futurity and Mountain Top Futurity winner from 2016 looks great in 2017 and should be one of the top New Mexico-bred three-year-old Quarter Horses. The daughter of Zulu Dragon trained by Juan M. Gonzalez won for the 8th time in 10 starts. Running Dragon remains unbeaten in 4 starts over Sunland Park soil. She earned a massive pay day of $96,808 for the By By JJ LLC led by Nahum Prieto of El Paso, Texas. The fast filly avenged a prior loss to Magnifico Dragon last fall at Zia Park.

RUNNING-DRAGON-The-Shue-Fly3-5 favorite Magnifico Dragon broke strongly and led briefly under jockey Mauro Salcedo. The 2016 New Mexico Cup Classic Futurity winner ran a strong race but could not hold off his arch rival. The Zulu Dragon gelding had to settle for second, finishing three parts of a lengths in front of First Kool Moon. The runner-up earned $37,075 for owner Daniel Balderama of Las Cruces. Magnifico Dragon came into the Shue Fly with 4 career wins.

Live racing resumes on Tuesday at 12:45 p.m.


Photos courtesy of:  Coady Photography