Red Or Green Stakes

Red Or Green Stakes

RC Corona King is a prompt favorite in Sunday feature at Sunland Park.

RC Corona King. PHOTO: Coady Media

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Jose R. Riojas' RC Corona King led at every call en route to a three-quarter length win in Sunday's $90,000 Red Or Green Stakes (RG2) for New Mexico-breds at Sunland Park.

Sent to post as the 4-5 favorite in a full field of 10, RC Corona King covered 400 yards in :19.601, a clocking accomplished against a reported 10-mph head wind. Luis Martinez rode the 5-year-old son of Eye Am King for trainer Gerardo Quinonez.

RC Corona King was shortening in distance off of his half-length victory in the December 15, 440-yard New Mexico Classics Championship (RG1) at Zia Park. The sorrel gelding was bred by Baldemar L. Parra, and he is out of Classyoddsofdeefirst, an unplaced homebred daughter of the First Down Dash stallion Deefirst.

RC Corona King traces back to his third dam, Impressa, a multiple stakes-placed daughter of the First Landing (TB) stallion Jim J. (TB) and a finalist in the 1984 Sunland Park Fall Futurity (G2) and '85 West Texas Derby (G2). Campaigned exclusively in New Mexico, the gelding has won six of his 20 starts -- including four graded stakes -- and the $54,000 winner's share of the Red Or Green Stakes purse pushed his earnings to $411,020.

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