Page 70 - New Mexico Horse Breeder, Fall

RUIDOSO DOWNS
by Michael Cusortelli
ZIA QUARTER HORSE DERBY (RG2)
Big Daddy Cartel
Corona Cartel
Miss Racy Eyes
Allice K White
First Down Dash
Champagne Lane
BIGG DADDY
Sent to post as the 9-10 favorite in a full
field of 10 state-bred 3-year-olds, second-fastest qualifier Bigg Daddy led at every call en route
to a head victory in the July 29, $190,937 Zia Quarter Horse Derby (RG2) at Ruidoso Downs.
Bigg Daddy made his 400-yard trip in :19.635 while posting a 96 speed index. G.R. Carter Jr. rode the sorrel Big Daddy Cartel gelding for the Too For Two partnership and trainer Wes Giles.
Bigg Daddy was bred by Mac and Janis Murray’s MJ Farms at Veguita, New Mexico, and he was a $25,000 purchase at the 2016 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. His sire, Big Daddy Cartel, is a winning 9-year-old gray son of the Holland Ease stallion Corona Cartel.
Racing at Ruidoso Downs in 2011 and unraced beyond his 2-year-old campaign, Big Daddy Cartel earned $121,800 from five outs, and he was a finalist in the All American (G1) and Rainbow (G1) futurities. He has sired the earners of more than $3.2 million from three crops, including graded stakes winner Daddys Blushing and stakes winners Cartels Star Daddy and Go Daddy Gone.
Big Daddy Cartel is a half brother to stakes winner Racy La Jolla, and he ranked second behind Zulu Dragon among freshman sires in 2016. He is owned by and stands for a $5,000 fee at MJ Farms.
Bigg Daddy is out of Alice K White, a home- bred 12-year-old daughter of 1987 world champion and all-time leading sire First Down Dash and the sport’s champion 3-year-old filly in ’09. The geld- ing is a half brother to 2015 champion sophomore
Astica and a Tuscan Redd, the third-place finisher in Girlonthego’s ’14 Zia Futurity (RG1).
Bigg Daddy’s second dam, the homebred Lanes Leinster mare Champagne Lane, won the 1996 Diamond Classic Futurity (RG1) at the Central Wyoming Fair at Casper. Champagne Lane produced five stakes winners, includ-
ing Kendall Jackson, a half brother to Alice K White who won the ’03 AQHA New Mexico Championship Challenge (G1) at Sunland Park, and Zuccardi, a half brother to Alice K White and winner of the 2014 Mountain Top Futurity (RG3) at Ruidoso Downs.
Bigg Daddy made his season debut with
a three-quarter length win as the 2-5 favorite in one of four Zia Derby trials on July 14. Campaigned exclusively in New Mexico, the gelding has won six of 10 starts, including
last year’s 400-yard, $371,000 Zia Futurity (RG1). His 2-year-old season also included a second-place finish as the fastest qualifier, 1 1/2 lengths behind winner Fly Baby Fly, in the 440-yard, $3-million All American Futurity (G1) at Ruidoso Downs, Quarter Horse rac- ing’s richest and most prestigious race.
The $80,195 winner’s share of the Zia Derby purse increased Bigg Daddy’s earnings to $744,013. The gelding was being pointed to the 440-yard All American Derby (G1) trials at Ruidoso Downs on August 19.
Fastest qualifier Frankie James finished second and was followed officially by First N Forever, Siximoons, Vietti, Tempting Star Gazer, Flashy Tres, Nolans Theory, Amsterdams Big Daddy, and Jesse Klee.
The fourth-fastest qualifier and a 20-1 longshot, Jesse Klee crossed the wire sixth but was disqualified and placed 10th following a stewards’ inquiry.
Frankie James was coming off of a half- length victory in the last of four Zia Derby trials. A sorrel son of Jesse James Jr owned by Bella A. Valenzuela, who acquired the gelding as a yearling for $16,000 at the 2016 New Mexico- Bred Sale, Frankie James has won two of six starts and has banked $63,193. He was a finalist in last year’s 350-yard, $393,000 Mountain Top Futurity (RG3) at Ruidoso Downs.
First N Forever races for Robert Elliott
and Billy G. Smith. A $9,000 yearling buy
at the 2016 New Mexico-Bred Sale, the First Moonflash filly has won one of eight starts and has earned $48,832. First N Forever began her sophomore campaign with a fifth-place finish, 2 3/4 lengths behind winner Everybuddys Talkin, in the January 14, 400-yard Shue Fly Stakes (RG2) at Sunland Park.
68 New Mexico Horse Breeder