Page 72 - NMHBA Spring 2022

SUNLAND PARK
Shue Fly Stakes (RG2)
Photos by Coady Photography
Big Daddy Cartel
Corona Cartel
Miss Racy Eyes
Astica
Jesse James Jr
Alice K White
WENTE
A sharp break from post 2 helped Wente score a wire-to-wire victory in the January 29, $262,104 Shue Fly Stakes (RG2) for New Mexico-bred 3-year-old quarter horses at Sunland Park.
Prepped by Eric Valenzuela for owners Scott Branson and Jimmy Vasquez, Wente covered 400 yards in :19.581, and his winning margin was a nose from The Calling. Sergio Becerra Jr. rode the gray son of Big Daddy Cartel, who earned a 96 speed index from his first career stakes score.
Wente was bred by Mac and Janis Murray’s MJ Farms at Veguita, New Mexico, and he was purchased by Branson and Vasquez for $36,000 at the 2020 New Mexico-Bred Sale at Ruidoso Downs. The gelding’s sire, Big Daddy Cartel, is a winning 13-year-old son of Corona Cartel who was a finalist in the 2011 All American (G1) and Rainbow (G1) futurities at Ruidoso Downs.
A half-brother to stakes winner Racy La
Jolla and 2009 Rainbow Futurity (G1) finalist Stepenos, Big Daddy Cartel has sired the earners of more than $12.4 million from seven crops, including multiple graded stakes winners Bigg Daddy and Cat Daddys Lil Girl, and graded stakes winners Donelli and Hollyn Bootie. The stallion is owned by and stands for a $5,500 at MJ Farms.
Wente is out of Astica, a homebred daughter of the Mr Jess Perry stallion Jesse James Jr and the sport’s 2015 champion sophomore filly. A 2012
foal, Astica has produced two graded stakes placed runners -- Fanncee, a winning full sister to Wente who ran second in last year’s Zia Derby (RG2) at Ruidoso Downs, and Valiant Astica, a winning half-sister to Wente who finished second in the 2020 Rainbow Oaks at Ruidoso Downs.
Wente’s second dam, the homebred multiple graded stakes winning First Down Dash mare Alice K White, was the sport’s champion 3-year- old filly in 2009. Alice K White foaled Bigg Daddy, a half-brother to Astica who won the 2017 Zia Futurity (RG1) at Ruidoso Downs and ran second in that season’s 440-yard, $3-million All American Futurity (G1).
Wente traces back to his third dam, Champagne Lane, a homebred Lanes Leinster mare who won three graded stakes in California and Wyoming from 1996-97, including the 1997 La Primera del Ano Derby (G2) at Los Alamitos. Champagne Lane produced several stakes winners, including Kendall Jackson, a Grade 1 winning half-brother to Alice K White and the one-time 440-yard world record holder.
The third-fastest qualifier, Wente made his season debut with a 1 3/4-length win in one of six Shue Fly Stakes trials on January 7. Raced in two states, including Oklahoma, the gelding has won two of eight outs, and the $123,189 winner’s share of the Shue Fly Stakes purse bumped his earnings to $136,599.
JC New Dawn finished third, one length behind Wente, and was followed by Wish Bigg, fastest qualifier and odds-on favorite Flashin Fire, River Flash, Holland Rock, Z Ya, Antinori and Renika.
Runner-up The Calling banked $47,179 for his owner, Javier M. Chavez. A $17,000 yearling buy at the 2020 New Mexico-Bred Sale and a son of Big Daddy Cartel and the winning First Down Dash mare Fine Wines, the gray gelding has won two of six races and has earned $68,199.
JC New Dawn is a chestnut son of the Dash Ta Fame stallion Woodbridge campaigned
by Telma Meraz and Federico Gonzalez. The gelding has won two of six races, and the $28,832 third-place share of the Shue Fly purse increased his bankroll to $71,138.
70 New Mexico Horse Breeder