Page 132 - May 2018 Speedhorse

New Mexican Spring Futurity-RG2
ZEE JAMES
by Danny Camp
Zee James flew to his first stakes victory
in the $396,412 New Mexican Spring Futurity-RG2 at Sunland Park on April 7. The two-year-old bay filly was the fastest qualifier to the finals when she ran a stellar race in the March 16 trials.
There were 11 qualifying races that day and Zee James was in the last of them. She broke on top in her heat and had 2-lengths on the field as she entered the stretch under Adrian Ramos. The race was her first official start and she made it count, finishing 3 3/4-lengths in front with a time of :15.002 for a 101 speed index.
When the starter pushed the button in
the New Mexican Spring Futurity finals, Zee James broke well from the 9-post and on the lead under Ramos. The filly was a head in front of the field at the first call, and they main- tained the lead throughout. With a final surge, Zee James crossed the finish line a neck ahead of the competition for another wire-to-wire performance. The team finished the 300 yards in :15.057, posting a 98 speed index this time. Zee James brought home the $186,314 winner’s share of the purse for owners Robert Driggers and Ben Ivey and trainer Wesley Giles. The filly remains undefeated.
Driggers bred Zee James out of stakes win- ner On A Bunny, who set a New Track Record at The Downs of Albuquerque for 400-yards in 1994. On A Bunny won the Cabeza De Vaca Handicap in 1994 in Santa Fe and finished sec- ond in the Real Wind Handicap at The Downs of Albuquerque in 1995. She also was a finalist in four additional stakes events with 6 wins from 15 starts and $25,568 in earnings.
On A Bunny is a half-sister to graded stakes winner Six To Five, who won 19 races, includ- ing the Santa Fe Downs Futurity-RG3, New Mexico State Fair Futurity-RG3, New Mexico State Fair Breeders Championship and Jet Deck Handicap-G3.
On A Bunny has produced 100% money earners from 15 starters, including New Mexico Hi-Point Aged Gelding and top money earner Gun Battle, who has earned $669,449 and was a runner-up in the 2006 All American Futurity-G1. Zee James is her second stakes winner.
“This is an easy filly to train,” said Giles. “She seems to want to do the right thing. She eats good and doesn’t have any bad habits. We had to gate her a few extra times coming up to the trials. Usually a Jesse James Jr only requires a couple of times when it comes to gate training.
New Mexico-Bred Yearling Sale last August. Under Cipriano Vidana, Midnite Blu (First
Moonflash-The Blues Girl) came in third for owner Too For Two. The
colt was also trained by Wes Giles. Midnite Blu broke his maiden in the trials with a
1 1/4-length victory. In the finals he stepped away just a bit tardy, but gave a gallant effort down the stretch.
Cat Daddys Lil Girl (Big Daddy Cartel-Girlonthego) finished fourth and was fol- lowed by Rallydownthealley (Big Daddy Cartel-
Lucky Ladayces), Igotmybiggirljeanson (Big Daddy Cartel-Prada N
Jeans), Cowboy On The Run (Chicks Regard- Got Faith), Cristobell Fame (Jesse James Jr-Sandys Fame), HS Paul Walker (Osbaldo- Strawberryberryfast) and Special Outlaw (Jesse James Jr-Eyesa Special Doll) completed the order of finish.
“This filly finally got it and she broke good in the trials,” continued the trainer. “Warming up before the trials I was worried that she wasn’t ready, but she obviously was.
She knew what was coming
up and she was ready. She
makes me look good, she’s that
kind of filly. She is easy to be
around and pulled up sound
after the finals.”
Wes went on to say, “Jockey Adrian Ramos does a good job for our barn, and he has spent a lot of time riding this filly. We are looking to the Mountain Top and then the All American at Ruidoso. If things look good, we might give the Zia a try.”
16-1 longshot Woodys Copy Cat (Woodbridge-Fast Copy Miss) outran her odds with jockey Jaime Leos to finish second for owner Enrique Barrera and conditioner Cynthia Gonzalez. Still a maiden from two starts, the filly was purchased for $4,700 at the Ruidoso
Sunland Park $396,412 • 300 yards :15.057 • si 98
Mr Jess Perry
Jesse James Jr
Loose Lips
ZEE JAMES, ‘16-f.
On A High
On A Bunny
Ester’s Bunny
130 SPEEDHORSE, May 2018
Zee James & Adrian Ramos receive every call winning the $396,412 New Mexican Spring Futurity-RG2
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