Blazin Fire, By JEH Stallion THIS SNOW IS ROYAL, Wins Las Damas Once Again, New Stakes Record
LOS ALAMITOS RACE COURSE, CYPRESS, CA - DECEMBER 1, 2007 - Lisa and Dan McMahon's Blazin Fire became only the third mare in the 34-year history of the Las Damas Handicap(G2) to successfully defend her title after an impressive 1 3/4 length win on Saturday at Los Alamitos. Ridden by Cody Jensen for trainer Paul Jones, Blazin Fire also broke her on stakes record in the $55,150 Las Damas after covering the 400-yard distance in :19.49. She set the previous record of :19.54 last year. Bred by the McMahons, Blazin Fire now joins Corona Cash, who won this race in 1998 and 1999, and Dinastia Toll Brz, the winner in 2002 and 2003, as the only distaffers to win back-to-back runnings of this race, which was first held in 1973.
Blazin Fire has now won four of six starts this year, including three stakes victories. She entered this race after winning the $100,000 John Deere Distaff Challenge on November 3.
"We decided against running her in last week's trials to the Champion of Champions to run her in this race instead," Jones said. "If we keep running her only against mares, we feel that she can be extremely tough. We want her to keep winning so that her confidence remains high. Cody said that this was the best race she's ever run for him."
Jensen gave the daughter of THIS SNOW IS ROYAL plenty of praise.
"She was breathing fire, she wanted to run tonight," Jensen said. "Ever since she won the John Deere she's been really pumped up. It's like she knows she ran a big race and she's feeling great. She's been a bear ever since."
The even money favorite, Blazin Fire looked like she was on the muscle prior to entering the starting gate, as well as once she entered the gate.
"She wanted to lift a few times," Jensen said. "The headman did a great job in the gate, and (assistant) Jimmy Burke did a good job on her tail. They handled her professionally. We beat What A Performance (the second choice at 5-2) out of the gate. I had a step on her right from the start. I owe it all to my headman. He did a great job handling Blazin Fire in the gate."
The 5-year-old mare earned $30,332 for the win to take her career earnings to $275,230. She also improved to 10 wins in 28 starts, with six of those wins coming in her last 11 starts. Blazin Fire will make her next start in the Grade 1 Charger Bar Handicap on January 5.
"She'll probably be bred after the Charger Bar," Jones added.
Jones enjoyed a training trifecta in the Las Damas, as he also saddled runner-up Corona Crystal and third place finisher Mia Jones. His three mares combined to earn $49,634 of the $55,150 purse.
What A Performance, Flashin Dashin, Hold Me Now, In Between Dreams, Eyesa Memories, Corona De Flores and Gottobes Cat completed the field.
