WAMBUI WINS NEW MOON, TWO MORE JUVENILES EARN VICTORIES
Hall of Fame Owner and Breeder Ed Allred enjoyed back-to-back winners on Sunday night with his 4-year-old mare Wambui winning the New Moon Stakes at 330-yards and his 2-year-old gelding Nevada Charles flying late to score an easy debut win at 220 yards. Both were ridden to victory by Oscar Andrade Jr. and trained by Scott Willoughby.
Second in the Denim N Diamonds in her last start, the Favorite Cartel mare Wambui earned her first stakes victory after pulling away from a solid cast of rivals to win the New Moon from post number three. The Steve Burns-bred runner has now posted wins in three out of her last four starts. In her career, she’s won five of 15 outings.
“She’s come back really well,” Willoughby said. “We turned her out for about eight months and let her rest. We brought her back and has done great. She’s getting better with every trip. She’ll be a great mare for the year. She’s a solid mare all the way across. She stumbled a little bit away from the gate. She gives you everything she’s got every time. If she’s good enough, she’ll get it done.”
Wambui earned $8,250 for the win. She covered the distance in :16.894.
The Allred-bred Nevada Charles bumped at the start but was tremendous from there to win his first start by 1 ¾ lengths. Sired by the red-hot first-year stallion Fly Thru The Fire, Nevada Charles won in a time of :12.404. Out of the mare Nymph, he’s a half-brother to PCQHRA Breeders Futurity winner Monopolist.
“We like this horse,” Willoughby said. “Everything has been going right. He looked great tonight. He didn’t break as sharp as I wanted or as I thought. First jump, second jump, he was already out in front and just opened up. I don’t worry about the time. He won it easy and did it in hand. That’s all we care about right now.”
The other juvenile winner of the night was Jesus Avila and Jesus Cuevas’ Set For It, who went wire-to-wire to score in his debut in a fast time of :12.223. Ridden by Cesar Franco for trainer Adan Farias, the gelding by Seperate Interest and out of Up For It won the race by ¾ lengths, increasing his lead with each of his final strides.
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