Page 136 - November_2023

MJ Farms Dominates Richest Weekend in History
at The Downs at Albuquerque
Story by Emily Paulk • Photos by Susan Bachelor, Speedhorse
MJFarms was a winning connection to the winners of four of the five
Quarter Horse stakes races hosted at The Downs at Albuquerque on October
15. The facility paid out a track record total
of $2,565,013 for 10 races with $2,448,413 coming from stakes alone. The race program was headlined by the $1,208,668 New Mexico State Fair Futurity-RG2, which was not only the richest purse that race has seen, it is the world’s richest state-bred Quarter Horse Futurity.
The afternoon began with the $60,000 New Mexico State Fair Sophomore Stakes. Doin Something Right, bred by MJ Farms, won in a slight upset under Sergio Becera, Jr. Trained by Marco Flores, the gelding has won five races and has earnings of $121,399. MJ Farms sold Doin Something Right to owners Empire Racing and Pavon Racing, LLC for $37,000 at the 2021 Ruidoso New Mexico Bred Yearling Sale.
In the $100,000 New Mexico State Fair Juvenile, MJ Farms bred not only the winner, but also the third-place finisher as well. Post-time favorite and half-brother to New Mexico State Fair Sophomore Stakes winner Doin Something Right, Wood Be Bad made an impressive finish, crossing the wire with a 1/2-length lead. Francisco Calderon rode the gelding for trainer James Gonzales, III. Wood Be Bad has won three of his four starts and
has earnings of $110,039. MJ Farms sold the gelding for $80,000 to owner Rancho El 48, LLC at the 2022 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. In third place was Bigg Deal, that MJ Farms sold for $130,000 at the 2022 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale.
MJ Farms bred Vintage Bourdeaux, who scored his first stakes victory in the $435,210 New Mexico State Fair Derby-RG3. Jockey Luis Flores-Garcia rode the gelding for trainer Marco A. Flores. Marking the fifth career win for Vintage Bourdeaux, the $217,605 winner’s share of the purse boosted his lifetime earnings to $283,073. MJ Farms sold the gelding for $33,000 at the 2021 Ruidoso New Mexico Bred Yearling Sale to Marcelino Gonzalez of Tungsten Racing Partnership.
MJ Farms made a clean sweep in the richest race of the evening, breeding the top three finishers. Bella De Ball, who is also owned by MJ Farms, made easy work of the $1,208,669 New Mexico State Fair Futurity-RG2 with a wire-to-wire finish under Alan Hernandez. Also winning the $50,000 Zia Juvenile Stakes at Ruidoso Downs in July, the filly has put together a three-race win streak. Running for trainer Wes Giles, the filly has hit the board in all five of her starts and the $604,334 winner’s share of the purse pushed her bankroll to $632,374. Bad King (also by Eye Am King, the sire of Bella De Ball) finished in second
under Francisco Calderon for trainer James J. Gonzales, III. MJ Farms sold the gelding for $65,000 at the 2022 Ruidoso New Mexico Bred Yearling Sale to owners Nove Racing, LLC, Triple R Racing Stables, LLC, Antoinette Gonzales and Patricio Venzor. Also trained by Giles, Miss Hi Tide finished in third under Adrian Ramos. The filly was sold for $80,000 at the 2022 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale to owner Uno Menos.
The only stakes event MJ Farms didn’t have a winner in, is the only race they didn’t have a runner in, the $350,000 Downs at Albuquerque Fall Championship-G1. Overall, MJ Farms bred 21 of the starters on the field during Sunday’s Quarter Horse stakes races.
Mac and Janis Murray of MJ Farms accept the $1,208,669 New Mexico State Fair Futurity trophy.
134 SPEEDHORSE November 2023
Susan Bachelor, Speedhorse