Page 103 - July 2020

Leading Cartel in the winner’s circle after his victory. His connections include owner Reliance Ranches, LLC, trainer Mike Robbins and jockey Esgar Ramirez.
following the win. “You’ll likely see him in the Zia Futurity trials, and he is paid into the All American, so we’ve got some deci- sions to make with him.”
The Mountain Top Futurity victory has special meaning to the winning rider.
“This horse is special to me because I helped break him,” said Ramirez. “You can ask him to give you more, and he responds. He slipped just a little coming out of the gates, and then I asked him, and he grabbed the lead. He’s done everything right; three races now.”
Bred in New Mexico by MJ Farms, Leading Cartel is produced from the Grade 3-winning dam Leading Diva, a sister to AQHA Champion Leading Spirit, winner of the Ruidoso Futurity-G1 and Rainbow Futurity-G1. MJ Farms sold Leading Cartel for $45,000 at the Ruidoso New Mexico Bred Yearling Sale last year. Leading Diva has produced 100% money earners from 19 starters, with Leading Cartel being her first stakes winner. The gelding is a half brother
to three stakes-placed runners, including 2018 New Mexico Breeders’ Stakes (RG3) runner-up Jessa Diva.
Leading Cartel’s second dam is lightly raced Sandras Task she has produced 100% money earners from 12 starters, including Leading Diva, winner of the Manor Downs Lassie Futurity-G3, KHEY/Y96 Handicap and Quicksilver Handicap. The mare is also the producer of the dam to Laico Bird Stakes winner The Charm Of Corona.
The gelding’s sire, Big Daddy Cartel, is an 11-year-old stallion who earned $121,800 from five races and was a finalist in the 2011 All American (G1) and Rainbow (G1) futurities.
Big Daddy Cartel has sired the earners of more than $8.05 million from five crops, including multiple graded stakes winners Bigg Daddy and Mamacita Cartel.
MJ Farms also bred the runner-up Woodys Gold (Woodbridge-All About Gold TB). Piloted by Francisco Calderon, Woodys Gold is owned by Cavenaugh
Quarter Horses and trained by Clinton Crawford. Woodys Gold was a $10,000 Ruidoso New Mexico-Bred Sale graduate. Woodys Gold finished second in his trial heat, his lone start prior to the main event. The gelding has banked $65,984 from his two starts.
Midnight Train Mo (Rock Solid Jess-Not Sable Shes Rose) finished a close third under Alfredo Triana Jr. for owner Mason King and trainer Juan Triana. Midnight Train Mo was bred in New Mexico by Sarah E. Donaldson Rioux. Midnight Train Mo fin- ished third in his career bow at Remington Park on April 23 and followed that up with a second-place finish in his trial to this race. The colt has earned $38,567.
Surfz Up (Corona Surfer-Mitey Moon), Jessies Allstar (Jesse James Jr-Woodys Allstar), Heza Classy Now (Rock Solid Jess- Shezz Classy Now) and Ezze Dash (Zulu Dragon-Lionett) completed the order of finish. Cannelloni, Hatchi Zulu and Lunas Glitteringstar were scratched.
RACING NEWS
SPEEDHORSE July 2020 101
Ruidoso Downs