Page 192 - Speedhorse, December 2018

Namehimastreaker New Mexico Classic Championship-RG1
MAJOR BITES
by John Moorehouse
For Major Bites, winning the Namehimastreaker New Mexico Classic Championship-RG1 was twice as nice. The five-year-old gelding claimed
a second consecutive victory in the stakes, taking this year’s $170,000 event by a strong 1 1/2-length margin at Zia Park on Nov. 4.
Last year’s win in the Namehimastreaker marked the first stakes victory for Major Bites, and he topped his performance in the latest running of the stakes, cover-
ing the 440 yards in :21.594
for a 99 speed index. Major
Bites led at every call, seizing
a 1/2-length lead at the first
call, doubling that advantage
as he entered the stretch,
and pulling away to log a
1 1/2-length margin. Jesus
Carrete trains Major Bites,
and Jose Alvarez was aboard.
A decorated competitor on the New Mexico circuit, Major Bites now holds five
wins in stakes company as part of nine overall victories in 25 starts. The $102,000 payday pushed his total earnings over the half-million milestone to $552,712 for owner Israel Bordier.
Major Bites has raced exclusively in stakes company this year, winning four of those five races and adding more than $300,000 to his total bankroll. Past wins this year include
the Dona Anna County Stakes and Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap-RG3 at Sun Downs, as well as the Moon Flash Maturity at Albuquerque Downs.
Carlos Paez bred Major Bites and owns his dam, a 2-time winner Dyna Mo Rime, who has foaled six starters among nine offspring. Major Bites remains the only stakes winner in the brood.
Mamacita Cartel (Big
Daddy Cartel-Posies Woodette) finished second under Edgar Martinez for owner David Bloomer and trainer Cynthia Gonzalez.
Percyjones (Jesse James Jr-Maggies Miracle LX) hit the board in third place. The gelding is owned by Terry and Irene Stennett. A Blane Wood trainee, Percyjones had rider Ricky Ramirez aboard.
The remaining order of finish was Magnifico Dragon (Zulu Dragon-Cassies Mag), Play Misty Foreme (Jesse James Jr-Arbor Mist), A Passion For Flashn (First Moonflash- Subtly Sixy), Marcus Medallion (Jesse James Jr-Houstons Medallion), You Can Do It Regard (Chicks Regard-Authorized Rime), Cartels Star Daddy (Big Daddy Cartel-Chivato Star) and Gon In A Flash (First Moonflash-Meter Her Gone). Mr Klee and Swiss White Wine were scratched.
Lady, produced 2 stakes winners including 2008 Champion 3-Year-Old Colt One Famous Eagle, a 1/2-brother to Famous Corona Lady.
Eagle Coast (One Dashing Eagle-Coastal Candy) was second under Sergio Becerra Jr. for owner Ernesto Palacio and trainer Jose Muela. Joe Rios’ Suze Returns (High Rate Of Return- Brown Eye Suze) finished third with Tanner Thedford aboard for trainer Juan Gonzalez.
Taking The Stage (Louisiana Senator- Thirty Fourth Street), Tyson Gay (Foose- Hawk Kue Pie), Tools In The Sky (First Down Dash-No Tools Required), Zee James (Jesse James Jr-On A Bunny), Wokatee On Fire (Highest Fire-Wokatee), Viva Le Don (Rock Solid Jess-Viva Arriba) and Jess Versiontino (Winners Version-Cmon Jesses Girl) com- pleted the order of finish. Jesssaying & Moonflash Numbers scratched.
Southwest Juvenile Invitational Championship-G1
JEST FAMOUS
by Michael Cusortelli
Jest Famous earned his first stakes victory in the $150,000 Southwest Juvenile Invitational Championship-G1 at Zia Park on Dec. 2. Campaigned by MRB Racing LLC and racing against a reported 22-mph head wind, Jest Famous covered 440 yards in :21.768. His winning margin was a head over Eagle Coast. Ricky Ramirez rode Jest Famous for trainer G. Blane Wood.
“Coming into this race, I thought he could run third or better if he got
away well,” stated Wood.
“This horse is huge, and he’s
just now figuring it out.” Jest Famous began his
career with a 3/4-length vic- tory in a 350-yard Ruidoso Futurity-G1 trial on May 26. He followed up that effort with a third-place finish, 3/4-length behind winner Blue Corazon, in the $1-mil- lion Ruidoso Futurity finals on June 10.
The gelding now has a race record of 4(1)-0- 3(1) from 7 outs and has banked $215,765 with the additon of this $70,560 winner’s share.
He was making his second start at 440 yards. On Aug. 18, he ran third in an All American Futurity-G1 trial at Ruidoso Downs.
“He was one of our top horses heading into the All American trials,” said Ramirez. “I don’t know what happened, but he just didn’t fire that day. We didn’t lose faith in him, and today
he performed the way we thought he could.”
Jest Famous was bred by Jon and Donna McPherson and was a $200,000 purchase at the 2017 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale.
Jest Famous is the first starter produced by 3-time winner Famous Corona Lady, fifth in the 2014 Ruidoso Futurity-G1 and 2015 All American Derby-G1. His 2nd dam, stakes-placed One Famous
190 SPEEDHORSE, December 2018
Zia Park $170,0000 • 440 yards :21.594 • si 99
Mr Jess Perry
Jesse James Jr
Loose Lips
MAJOR BITES, ‘13-g.
Major Rime
Dyna Mo Rime
Dynamic Ego TB
Zia Park $150,000 • 440 yards :21.768 • si 95
Streakin La Jolla
Mr Jess Perry
Scoopie Fein
JEST FAMOUS, ‘16-g.
Corona Cartel
Famous Corona Lady
One Famous Lady
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