Page 155 - November_2023

BELLA DE BALL
by Tracy Gantz
The MJ Farms breeding program dominated the Oct. 15 New Mexico State Fair Futurity-RG2 at the Downs at Albuquerque,
a race for New Mexico-breds that for the first time was worth more than $1 million. Of the
10 starters, MJ Farms bred six, including the
first three across the line. All six are by stallions standing at MJ Farms: four by Eye Am King, one by Big Daddy Cartel, and one by Woodbridge.
Of the six, MJ Farms only owns one, winner Bella De Ball. That had made the rooting interests intriguing for the husband-and-wife team of Mac Murray and Dr. Janis Spencer Murray, the “MJ” in MJ Farms. A television interviewer asked Mac before the race who they were hoping would win.
“Well, naturally we’re rooting for the one we own,” Mac told the reporter. “But if one we bred outruns us, that’s not the worst thing either.”
The Murrays love the New Mexico incentive program, which has encouraged many people to breed horses in that state.
Bella De Ball and jockey Alan Hernandez win the $1,208,669 New Mexico State Fair Futurity-RG2 by a head.
RACING NEWS
SPEEDHORSE November 2023 153
New Mexico State Fair Futurity-RG2
The Downs at Albuquerque
$1,208,669 • 400 yards :19.400 • SI 97
BELLA DE BALL, ‘21-f.
Bred by: MJ Farms
Raced to 2 $632,374 5-3(2)-1-1
EYE AM KING
Bred by: Julianna Hawn Holt Raced to 3 • $50
1-0-0-0
268 f., 5 SW • $3,702,671
MR JESS PERRY SI 113 Bred by: Jesse Perry Raced to 4 • $687,184 21-12(5)-2(1)-0
2,012 f., 166 SW • $61,800,039
EYE FOR CORONA SI 99 Bred by: MLA Internantional Company
Raced to 3 • $1,100,121 13-4(1)-4(3)-3
26 f., 2 SW • $351,923
MS JINGLES
SI 101
Bred by: Easy Acres Performance Horses
Raced to 3 • $453,728 9-5(2)-0-2(1)
12 f., 1 SW • $748,464
BIGTIME FAVORITE SI 102 Bred by: F. Gonsalez/Felix Banuelos Jr.
Raced to 4 • $324,020 19-4(1)-7(3)-1
567 f., 9 SW • $7,280,517
SOME QUICK DASHER SI 94 Bred by: Terri H. Alford Raced to 3 • $6,505 10-2-1-0
11f., 1 SW • $554,860
Susan Bachelor, Speedhorse