Page 85 - New Mexico Horse Breeder, Fall

FIRST MOONFLASH MATURITY (R)
Major Bites, a 5-year-old son of Jesse James Jr campaigned by Israel Bordier of El Paso, Texas, parlayed a sharp break from post 9 into a wire-to-wire victory in the August 26, $70,000 First Moonflash Maturity (R) for New Mexico-bred Quarter Horses at Albuquerque Downs.
Ridden by Juan Pulido for trainer Jesus Carrete and sent to post as the 7-10 favorite in
a field of nine, Major Bites went 440 yards in :21.249, and his margin of victory was 1 1/4 lengths from 6-1 third choice Mamacita Cartel. The bay gelding earned $42,000 while record- ing his third stakes win of the season.
Major Bites was making his first official start since March 3, when he scored a half-length victory in the 350-yard, $85,000 Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap (RG2) at Sunland Park. He prepped for his first out in nearly six months with three morning workouts at Albuquerque Downs, all at the 330-yard distance.
“He was ready to go,” said assistant trainer Jesus Carrete Jr. of Major Bites. “He’d been training really well, and we got him to where he needed to be to handle the 440 distance.”
Major Bites was bred by Carlos Paez of El Paso, Texas, and he is one of three winners
from six starters foaled by Dyna Mo Rime, a winning daughter of the Rime stallion Major Rime. Raced exclusively in New Mexico, the gelding has won eight of 23 starts, and his four lifetime stakes wins include the 440-yard, $85,000 Dona Ana County Stakes (R) at Sunland Park in January.
Major Bites has earned $389,012, of which $305,868 has been banked in 2017 and ’18. Carrete Jr. indicated that Major Bites would be pointed to the November 4, $170,000 Namehimastreaker New Mexico Cup Championship (RG1) at Zia Park, a race that he won last year.
Comin To Your Town, the 3-1 second choice, ran third, 1 3/4 lengths behind Major Bites, and was followed by Moon River, First Note Medley, Dungarees Version, Gon In A Flash, RG Miracle, and Cinco Menudos.
Runner-up Mamacita Cartel is a home- bred 4-year-old Big Daddy Cartel mare raced by David Bloomer. Mamacita Cartel has won four of 13 starts and has earned $105,257, and her resume includes a neck victory in the 400-yard, $39,000 Jimmy Drake Stakes (R) for New Mexico-breds at SunRay Park on May 25.
A 5-year-old Jesse James Jr gelding,
Comin To Your Town is owned by Vanessa C. Hinostroza and Rogelio Carrasco Jr., and he was coming off of a 350-yard non-winners-of- four allowance race at Albuquerque Downs on July 20. Comin To Your Town has won four
of 28 outs, and the $7,000 third-place share of the First Moonflash Maturity purse pushed his earnings to $98,217.
Contested every year at Albuquerque Downs, the First Moonflash Maturity honors First Moonflash, a New Mexico-bred son of champion First To Flash and the sport’s cham- pion aged stallion in 2009.
by Michael Cusortelli
the downs at albuquerque
Jesse James Jr
Mr Jess Perry
Loose Lips
Dyna Mo Rime
Major Rime
Dynamic Ego
MAjOR BITeS
FALL 2018 83