Page 172 - March_2022

RACING NEWS
Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap-RG2
BIGG DEE
by John Moorehouse
As a former jockey and now trainer, James Gonzales II is an established name in the Quarter Horse world. He’s not the only Gonzales making waves. Gonzales’ son, JJ Gonzales III, saddled winning horse Bigg Dee in the $100,000 Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap-RG2 on Feb. 12 at Sunland Park.
The elder Gonzales praised the work his sons, JJ and Sebastian, have been doing.
“They’ve helped me out around the barn and almost pretty much took over,” James said. “The proof’s in the pudding. They’ve done a great job for me and I couldn’t ask anything else of them.”
Bigg Dee broke on top from the inside to grab a 1/2-length lead by the first call and maintained that advantage to the wire. His 350-yard trip took :17.559, good for a 94 speed index.
Wiht Bigg Dee being in his four-year-old campaign and qualifying as an aged horse, his connections intend to make the most of the gelding’s remaining time on the track. By the time Bigg Dee went into the gates for the Mesilla Handicap, he was making his third out in stakes company this year. He got to the winner’s circle, scoring his first victory of the year.
”You’ve got stakes horses and you’ve got allow- ance horses and he’s a stakes
horse,” Gonzales II said. “That’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to pick and choose the races we run him in.”
This marked the second graded stakes win for Bigg Dee, who also won the Zia Derby-RG2.
“You always have to wonder, going from a three year old run- ning with older competition,” Gonzales II said. “We had a lot of faith in him turning four and
doing pretty good.”
Mario Delgado was in the irons as Bigg Dee
captured the $60,000 winner’s share of the purse, which increased his total earnings to $427,154.
Fly On Down (One Handsome Man-Never The Same) was second under Sergio Dominguez for owner Dalia Aranda & trainer Ebert Munoz. Don Chuy C (First Moonflash-Jess Say Bye Bye) placed third under Christian Ramos for owner Jesus Carrasco & trainer Karina Aldavaz.
Cartel Drunk Playboy (Big Daddy Cartel-
Key Deputy Driver), First Apollo Moon (First Moonflash-Officer Of The Court), No Mires A La Luna (First Moonflash-Dont Looke Ethel), Trace My Dust (Big Daddy Cartel-Shae N Denae TB) Outta Debt (First Moonflash-Jesstifiable Debt), Amandas Flashy (First Moonflash-Holland Fire) and Cat Daddys Lil Girl (Big Daddy Cartel- Girlonthego) completed the order of finish.
170 SPEEDHORSE March 2022
Sunland Park
$100,000 • 350 yards :17.559 • si 94
Corona Cartel
Big Daddy Cartel
Miss Racy Eyes
BIGG DEE, ‘18-g.
Woodbridge
Miss Woody Dee
Deeheiress
Coady Photography