Page 231 - September2021

Governors Cup Derby-RG2
FAVORITE COLOSSUS
by Tracy Gantz
When Favorite Colossus won the El Primero Del Ano Derby-G3 at Los Alamitos earlier this year, owner Jeff Cravens was able to attend, but his wife, Michelle, could not. They were both at the track on Aug. 1, however, to see their homebred Favorite Colossus add the $170,000 Governor’s Cup Derby-RG2.
“He got the picture last time, so I said this time is my turn,” said a very happy Michelle. “We bred this horse—he’s
our baby.”
That baby is growing into his name. He went off as
the 6-1 fourth choice in the 400-yard Derby, with Ruben Lozano in the irons. Third early while breaking from 9-post, Favorite Colossus put on an amazing burst of speed in the final few strides to overtake Counting The Ways and Monopolist and win by a nose in :19.673.
Zia Derby-RG2
BIGG DEE
by Michael Cusortelli
Rex Wells’ Bigg Dee, a gelded son of Big Daddy Cartel, was a prompt 2-1 favorite in the $203,478 Zia Derby-RG2 at Ruidoso
Downs on July 31.
Ridden by Mario Delgado for trainer James
Gonzales II, Bigg Dee defeated Fanncee by
a nose in :19.604. The gelding earned the $87,428 winner’s share of the $203,478 purse.
“When he broke as well as he did, I knew it was going to be a good day,” said Delgado. “It just takes him that moment
to gather himself, but today
he was ready when they
kicked the gate.”
Bigg Dee was bred by Mac and Janis Murray’s MJ Farms at Veguita, New Mexico,
and he was purchased by Wells for $30,000 at the 2019 New Mexico-Bred Sale. The third-fastest qualifier, he was coming off of a 1 1/4-length win in one of six Zia Derby trials on July 17.
“I didn’t know if we were going to get there,” said trainer Cesar De Alba. “The horse has a big heart. He likes to run at the end. The farther he goes distance wise, the better he’s going to be.”
Jeff Cravens noted that Favorite Colossus was an underdog in both of his stakes victories.
“There were five horses right there that could have won easily tonight,” Jeff said. “Our
jockey did good, and our trainer has done really well.”
The Cravens bred Favorite Colossus in Oregon from Warm It Up, a Dr. Ed Allred homebred who won the 2011 La Pacifica Handicap. Warm It Up has produced three winners from four starters. The family goes back to Seperate Ways, Favorite Colossus’ fourth dam. The Champion Broodmare
of 2000, Seperate Ways is the dam of Champion Separatist.
Bigg Dee is out of Miss Woody Dee, an unplaced homebred daughter of Woodbridge and a half-sister to multiple 870-yard stakes winner Rollickin Red. His second dam, the Mr Jess Perry mare Deeheiress, won the 2004 Miss Princess Handicap-G3 at Los Alamitos.
Bigg Dee traces back to his third dam, Deelish, a daughter of First Down Dash and the sport’s Champion 2-Year-Old Filly in 1998 and Champion Aged Mare in 2000.
Raced exclusively in New Mexico, Bigg Dee has won six of 11 outs and has banked $200,708. The gelding’s record includes second-place runs in last year’s 350-yard, $360,000 New Mexico Cup Futurity-RG2 at Zia Park, and the inaugural $91,000 Mountain Top Derby at Ruidoso Downs on June 19.
“He’s been so close to these good horses for so long that he deserves this,” said
Allred’s homebred Monopolist (Favorite Cartel-Nymph) finished second. Henry Lopez rode the gelding for trainer James Glenn Jr. Monopolist won the 2020 PCQHRA Breeders’ Futurity-G2.
Counting The Ways (Favorite Cartel- Million Ways), ridden by Cruz Mendez and trained by Jose Flores, ran third. Guadalupe Bujanda, Cesar Dabdoub, Julio Encinas, and Jose Flores own Counting The Ways, who won the 2020 Pat Hyland Memorial Handicap.
Completing the field were BF Outfoosed (Foose-BF Outrageous), Nuclear Option (Favorite Cartel-Thermonuclear Energy), Baccarat Attack (Favorite Cartel-Baccarat Bar), Expedited (Favorite Cartel-Katie Katella), Sassies Blues Girl (Favorite Cartel-Sass Me Blue), Harison (Favorite Cartel-Chicks Tell) and Mysterious Identity (Favorite Cartel-Hardly Hateful).
RACING NEWS
Los Alamitos
$170,000 • 400 yards :19.673 • si 94
Favorite Trick TB
Favorite Cartel
Shenoshercorona
FAVORITE COLOSSUS, ‘18-c.
Walk Thru Fire
Warm It Up
Waymaker Miss
Gonzales of Bigg Dee. “We knew he would excel at 400 yards. He’s just so (physically) big that he needs that extra ground.”
Runner-up Fanncee (Big Daddy Cartel- Astica) earned $37,469 for owner MJ Farms. Alan Hernandez rode the homebred filly for trainer Wes Giles.
Hollyn Bootie (Big Daddy Cartel-Datona Doll) ran third, a neck behind Fancee, for owners Mark and Annette McCloy. Tanner Thedford rode the homebred filly for trainer Trey Wood.
Woodys Gold (Woodbridge-All About Gold) ran fourth and was followed by fastest qualifier Out N Gone (Jesse James Jr-Volcom Flame), Icy Morning Breeze (Winners Version-Icy Storm), Roll Big River (Rock Solid Jess-Fabulous Brook), Leading Cartel (Big Daddy Cartel-Leading Diva) and Eagles And Dragons (Zulu Dragon-Effortless Eagle). Your Easy Jess was scratched.
Ruidoso Downs
$203,478 • 400 yards :19.604 • si 97
Corona Cartel
Big Daddy Cartel
Miss Racy Eyes
BIGG DEE, ‘18-g.
Woodbridge
Miss Woody Dee
Deeheiress
SPEEDHORSE September 2021 229
Ruidoso Downs William Zuazo, Speedhorse