Page 99 - New Mexico Horse Breeders 2019 Stallion Register

New Mexico State Fair Futurity (RG3)
Eighth-fastest qualifier Legend Of The Vine, a gray daughter of Big Daddy Cartel owned by
J & SM Inc. of Fort Stockton, Texas, outran her 22-1 odds to win the Sept. 22, $325,483 NM State Fair Futurity (RG3) at Albuquerque Downs.
Ridden by Justin Shepherd for trainer Fred Danley, Legend Of The Vine defeated ninth- fastest qualifier EB Rapidito by a neck while covering 400 yards in :19.926. The filly earned the $162,742 winner’s share of the stakes-record purse to push her bankroll to $169,232.
“She broke a step slow, but she ran to them,” said Shepherd, who also rode Legend Of The Vine to a 2nd place finish in her trial on Sept. 7. “The more pressure they put on her, the bigger her heart gets. I wish every horse I rode had her try.”
Legend Of The Vine was bred by Mac and Janis Murray’s MJ Farms in Veguita, New Mexico, and was a $57,000 purchase at last year’s Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. Her sire, Big Daddy Cartel, earned $121,800 from 5 starts while racing at Ruidoso Downs in 2011, and he was a finalist in that season’s Rainbow (G1) and All American (G1) futurities.
Now 9, Big Daddy Cartel has sired the earners of more than $3.6 million from three crops, topped by multiple graded stakes winner
and 2017 All American Futurity fastest quali- fier and runner-up Bigg Daddy, and graded stakes winners A Super Sonic Boom and Daddys Blushing. The stallion is owned by and stands for a $5,000 fee at MJ Farms.
Legend Of The Vine is out of Tangled Vines, a homebred winning daughter of the First Down Dash stallion Dash Ta Fame. The filly is a 1/2-brother to 2012 New Mexico Breeders’ Futurity (RG3) Rex Hill.
Legend Of The Vine’s 2nd dam, the homebred mare Dashin Sandy, won the ’92 Diamond Classic Futurity (RG1) at the Central Wyoming Fair in Casper, and was a finalist in that season’s Grade 1 Golden State Futurity
in Los Alamitos. Dashin Sandy produced the graded stakes winning mare Champagne Lane, the dam of Champion Alice K White and Grade 1 winner Kendall Jackson.
Legend Of The Vine has won two of five starts, including a 300-yard New Mexican Spring Futurity (RG2) trial at Sunland Park in her debut on March 16.
“She came into this race in great shape, so we were just hoping for the best,” Danley said. “I was a little bit concerned when she drew inside post 2, but it worked out great.”
Nevado Cartel ran third, 1/2-length behind
Legend Of The Vine, and was followed by Stuntin Like Daddy, CM Rowdy James, fastest qualifier Winerette, Jade, 2-1 favorite Jess Fire Chick, and Jess Versiontino.
Runner-up EB Rapidito was coming off of a 2-length victory a in his State Fair Futurity trial on Sept. 7. Racing for Edilberto Estrada, the homebred colt has won three of seven races and has banked $92,933, and he was a finalist in the $121,000 New Mexico Breeders’ Futurity (RG3) at SunRay Park in May.
Nevado Cartel is owned by Efren Aguilar, who also bred the gray son of Big Daddy Cartel. The colt has won two of five outs and has earned $53,958.
by Michael Cusortelli
THE DOWNS AT ALBUQUERQUE
Big Daddy Cartel
Corona Cartel
Miss Racy Eyes
Tangled Vines
Dash Ta Fame
Dashin Sandy
LEGEND OF THE VINE
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