Ancient Land won the fifth stakes race of his career Monday, racing prominently throughout for a two-length victory over Henry On the Run in the $200,000 Rocky Gulch New Mexico Cup Classic at Zia Park. It was another neck back in third to All Chrome. The race for 3-year-olds and up was one of eight stakes worth a total of $1.3 million on the New Mexico Cup program restricted to Thoroughbreds bred in the state. The Rocky Gulch was the co-richest offering on the card, alongside the Peppers Pride New Mexico Cup Distaff. Ancient Land ($30.80) tracked Spinning Black through fractions of 22.84 seconds for the opening quarter, 46.50 for the half-mile, and 1:10.92 for six furlongs before going on to cover the one mile and 70 yards on a fast track in 1:41.50. Ernesto Valdez-Jiminez was aboard for trainer Casey Lambert. :: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets. Ancient Land, a son of Monterey Jazz, has now won 9 of 26 stars for earnings of $404,919. He came into the Rocky Gulch off a sixth-place finish in the local allowance prep. Earlier this year, Ancient Land won the Land of Enchantment Stakes at Ruidoso Downs for the second time in his career. He races for the partnership of Riley, Carroll, Scott, and Howard. Corrina Corrina takes Peppers Pride Corrina Corrina won her fifth straight race in the $200,000 Peppers Pride New Mexico Cup Distaff, overtaking pacesetter Bye Bye Brandi by 1 1/4 lengths. It was another 8 1/4 lengths back in third to Our Time to Shine. Corrina Corrina ($2.10) sat off fractions of 23.93 for the opening quarter, 47.19 for the half-mile, and 1:11.01 for six furlongs before going on to win the mile race for fillies and mares in 1:35.71. Tracy Hebert was aboard for trainer Gary Cross. Corrina Corrina is a daughter of Mr. Trieste who races for her breeder, Derrick Jenkins. She has now won 11 of 23 starts for earnings of $753,870. She won her seventh stakes in the Peppers Pride, a race she also won in 2022. Corrina Corrina has built her current streak in New Mexico. Prior to this year’s Peppers Pride, she had won the $50,000 Lincoln in July at Ruidoso, a $75,000 overnight stakes at the same track in September, the $100,000 Salazar by double digits in late September at the Downs at Albuquerque, and the local allowance prep Nov. 7 at Zia Park. Juvenile Community Leader turned the tables on Milk It when he darted to a three-length win over that one in the $150,000 Juvenile at six furlongs. The pair previously met at the Downs at Albuquerque, with Milk It winning the New Mexico State Fair Futurity by three-quarters of a length over Community Leader. Community Leader is now 6 for 7 and in winning his third stakes Monday his earnings swelled to $287,107. Community Leader ($4.60) sat off Milk It’s fractions of 21.67 seconds for the opening quarter and 43.85 for the half-mile before covering the distance in 1:08.70.   Felipe Valdez was aboard the winner for breeders and owners J. Kirk and Judy Robison and trainer Todd Fincher. The owner-trainer team was back in the winner’s circle later on the card when jockey Joel Rosario guided Doer Not a Faker home to take the $150,000 Oaks in a tight photo. It was a head back in second to First Again.   Doer Not a Faker was always prominent and covered six furlongs for 3-year-old fillies in 1:09.14. The daughter of Diabolical returned $19.40. Bella Dona - again  Bella Dona won her third New Mexico Cup race when she led throughout for a 4 1/4-length victory over Marquis Lights in the $150,000 Distaff Sprint. In previous years, Bella Dona had won the New Mexico Cup Lassie and New Mexico Cup Oaks. She is now 13 for 17 for earnings of $858,918. Bella Dona ($3.40) set fractions of 21.88 seconds for the opening quarter and 44.15 for the half-mile before completing six furlongs on a fast track in 1:08.04. Luis Fuentes was aboard for trainer Simon Buechler. Bella Dona is a daughter of Attila’s Storm and was bred by co-owners Robert Driggers and Del Rae Driggers. She also is owned by Ben Lee Ivey. Bella Dona won the 11th stakes race of her career in the Distaff Sprint. Buechler and Fuentes teamed for a second winner on the card in the $150,000 Lassie, which Mark the Winner captured by a neck over Payingoffmymaker. Mark the Winner ($3.40) surged late, to cover six furlongs for 2-year-old fillies in 1:09.78. The daughter of Marking races for Rodney Brooks and Donnie Reid. *Let Him Be ($3.80) led throughout for a 3 3/4-length win over Smartsrealgood in the $150,000 Derby at six furlongs. Miguel Fuentes Jr. was aboard for trainer Joel Marr. Let Him Be, who captured this year’s Casino at the Downs at Albuquerque Derby, is a son of Sway Away who races for V Bar V Racing. He set fractions of 22.22 seconds for the opening quarter and 44.80 for the half-mile mark on Monday before covering the distance in 1:08.55. *Strawberry Whisky ($23.60) was always prominent for a 1 3/4-length win in the $150,000 Sprint. He set fractions of 21.65 seconds for the opening quarter and 44.10 for the half-mile before covering six furlongs in 1:09.10. Aldo Arboleda was aboard the son of Fusaichi Zenon for owner and trainer Celio E. Trujillo Jr. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.