Page 92 - Winter 2020

THE DOWNS AT ALBUQUERQUE
New Mexico State Fair QH Derby (R)
DONELLI
Donelli, a homebred filly campaigned
by Mac and Janis Murray’s MJ Farms at Veguita, New Mexico, was a prompt favorite in the September 20, 400-yard New Mexico State Fair Derby (R) for state-bred sopho- mores at Albuquerque Downs.
Ridden by Alan Hernandez and sent to post as the 6-5 choice in a full field of 10, Donelli defeated Dark Moon by three- quarters of a length in :19.573. Wes Giles prepped the gray filly, who banked
the $122,257 winner’s share of the $244,515 purse.
The fastest qualifier, Donelli was com- ing off of a neck victory in the second of three New Mexico State Fair Derby trials
on August 29. The filly’s sire, Big Daddy Cartel, is an 11-year-old winning son of the Holland Ease stallion Corona Cartel. Racing at Ruidoso Downs in 2011, the stallion earned $121,800 from five starts, and he
was a finalist in the All American (G1) and Rainbow (G1) futurities.
Big Daddy Cartel has sired the earners of more than $9.1 million from five crops, including multiple graded stakes winners Bigg Daddy, Cat Daddys Lil Girl, and Mamacita Cartel. A half-brother to stakes
winner Racy La Jolla, he is owned by and stands for a $5,500 fee at MJ Farms.
Donelli is out of Tres of Alice, a win- ning homebred daughter of 2001 AQHA Champion 2-Year-Old Colt Tres Seis. The filly is a half-sister to James Gang Boss, a son of Jesse James Jr and a finalist in last year’s $404,357 Mountain Top Futurity (RG2) at Ruidoso Downs.
Donelli’s second dam, the multiple graded stakes winning First Down Dash mare Alice K White, was the AQHA cham- pion sophomore filly in ‘09. A homebred, Alice K White produced Astica, the sport’s Champion 3-Year-Old Filly in 2015 and a half-sister to Tres of Alice.
Donelli traces back to her third dam, Champagne Lane, a homebred daughter
of the Leinster House (TB) stallion Lanes Leinster who won three graded stakes from 1996-97, including the 1996 Diamond Classic Futurity (RG1) at Casper, Wyoming, and the ‘97 La Primera del Año Derby (G2) at Los Alamitos.
Raced exclusively in New Mexico, Donelli has won seven of 11 starts -- includ- ing all four of his outs at Albuquerque Downs - and she has earned $402,501, of
which $193,203 has been pocketed from six races this season. The filly’s resume includes a second-place finish in last year’s 400- yard, $50,000 By By JJ Stakes (R) for New Mexico-bred 2-year-olds at Ruidoso Downs, a second-place run in the Jan. 25, $226,108 Shue Fly Stakes (RG2) at Sunland Park, and a third-place finish in the July 25, $183,073 Zia Derby (RG2) at Ruidoso Downs.
Donelli returned a $4.40 win mutuel and teamed with runner-up Dark Moon, the 6-1 third choice and second-fastest qualifier, for a $10 ($2) exacta.
Don Chuy C ran fourth and was fol- lowed by Anakena, Finnley, Mi Moonflash, Lionesse, Easters Regard, Jess Getaway, and Apollo Chicks.
A daughter of First Moonflash, Dark Moon races for Cavenaugh Quarter Horses LLC, which purchased the brown filly for $72,000 at the 2018 New Mexico-Bred Sale Downs. Dark Moon has won two of 10 races and she has banked $100,555.
Don Chuy C is a brown son of First Moonflash campaigned by Jesus Carrasco. The colt has won two of 12 outs, including last year’s By By JJ Stakes (R) at Ruidoso Downs, and he has earned $83,975.
by Michael Cusortelli • photos by Coady Photography
Big Daddy Cartel
Corona Cartel
Miss Racy Eyes
Tres Of Alice
Tres Seis
Alice K White
90 New Mexico Horse Breeder