Page 75 - NMHBA Spring 2022

SUNLAND PARK
Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap (R)
Photos by Coady Photography
Big Daddy Cartel
Corona Cartel
Miss Racy Eyes
Miss Woody Dee
Woodbridge
Deeheiress
BIGG DEE
A sharp break from his rail post helped Bigg Dee score a wire-to-wire victory in the February 13, 350-yard Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap (RG2) for New Mexico-breds at Sunland Park.
Ridden by Mario Delgado and racing against a reported 10-mph head wind, Bigg Dee defeated Fly On Down by a half of a length in :17.559. James Gonzales III trained the 4-year-old bay son of Big Daddy Cartel for owner Rex Wells of Friona, Texas.
Bigg Dee was bred by Mac and Janis Murray’s MJ Farms at Veguita, Texas, and he was purchased by Wells for $30,000 at the 2019 New Mexico-Bred Sale at Ruidoso Downs. The gelding’s sire, Big Daddy Cartel, is a 13-year-old winning son of the Holland Ease stallion Corona Cartel. Big Daddy Cartel earned $121,800 from five starts -- all at Ruidoso Downs -- and he was a finalist in the 2011 All American (G1) and Rainbow (G1) futurities.
Big Daddy Cartel has sired the earners of more than $12.4 million from seven crops, including multiple graded stakes winners Bigg Daddy,
Cat Daddys Lil Girl, and Mamacita Cartel. A half-brother to stakes winner Racy La Jolla, the stallion is owned by and stands for a $5,500 fee at MJ Farms.
Bigg Dee is out of Miss Woody Dee, an unplaced homebred 13-year-old daughter of the
Dash Ta Fame stallion Woodbridge. The gelding’s second dam, the Mr Jess Perry mare Deeheiress, won the 2004 Miss Princess Handicap (G3) at Los Alamitos and was a finalist in that season’s Grade 1 Los Alamitos Super, Golden State,
and Southern California derbies. A 2001 foal, Deeheiress produced Rollickin Red, a multiple stakes winning half-brother to Miss Woody Dee.
Bigg Dee’s third dam, the First Down Dash mare Deelish, was the sport’s champion 2-year-old filly in 1998 and champion aged mare two years later. He traces back to his fourth dam, Such An Easy Effort, a daughter of world champion Special Effort who won five graded stakes in three states from 1987-89.
Bigg Dee recorded a 94 speed index from his ninth win in 18 starts and second graded stakes victory. All told, the gelding has won four stakes, including last year’s $203,478 Zia Derby (RG2) at Ruidoso Downs, and the $60,000 winner’s share of the $100,000 Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap purse pushed his earnings to $427,154.
Don Chuy C ran third, a head behind runner-up Fly On Down, and was followed by Cartel Drunk Playboy, First Apollo Moon, No Mires A La Luna, Outta Debt, Trace My Dust, Amandas Flashy, and Cat Daddys Lil Girl.
Fly On Down is a 4-year-old son of the
One Famous Eagle stallion One Handsome Man racing for Dalia F. Aranda, who purchased the gray stallion for $7,000 at
the 2019 New Mexico-Bred Sale. Fly On Down has won three of 14 starts, and he was a finalist in the 2020 Zia Futurity (RG1) at Ruidoso Downs. The $20,000 runner-up share of the Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap purse bumped his bankroll to $111,263.
A 5-year-old son of champion First Moonflash, Don Chuy C races for Jesus T. Carrasco. The brown stallion has earned $233,700 from 24 outs in New Mexico and Texas, and his four wins include last year’s 440- yard, $100,000 Namehimastreaker New Mexico Cup Championship (RG1) at Zia Park.
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