Page 49 - New Mexico Horse Breeder Spring 2018

NM Champion QH Two-Year-Old Colt/Gelding
BIGG DADDY
(Big Daddy Cartel-Alice K White, First Down Dash) Bred by: MJ Farms
Owned by: Too For Two (Jill Giles, et al)
Trained by: Wes Giles
2017: 8 4-2-1 $661,418
1st - Zia Futurity (RG1)
2nd - All American Futurity (G1)
The name “Giles” is easily recognizable at race tracks. There was Lee. There was Ed. Now there’s Wes.
The Giles clan hails from the same intermountain area that spawned Quarter Horse racing’s Big Man, otherwise known as the late Blane Schvaneveldt. It was also the point of origin for MJ Farms, the breeder of Bigg Daddy.
It was Schvaneveldt who, many years ago, laid down what became a well-worn path from places such as Utah and Idaho. Over time,
the path became packed with horses heading
to Los Alamitos and Schvaneveldt’s barn. It
also opened the gate for trainers such as the Giles group to branch out with their talents. That became especially important as the racing opportunities in such states as Utah and Idaho were choked down to a small trickle. Eventually, those opportunities were gone. It was time for people such as the Giles, Mac Murray and Janis Spencer Murray to saddle up and ride.
“We first came to Ruidoso in 1981 with just two horses,” recalled Jill. “Then Wes started coming every year, coming home ‘to visit’ at the end of the season.”
Jill and Wes had bunches of conversations. Should they just pack up and move? There was no longer racing in their backyard but they still needed to make a living.
In the meantime, New Mexico’s breeding
program was beginning to flourish. They heard those “mailbox checks” were getting bigger. They moved. They’ve never experienced major regrets over their decision.
There are so many connected links to this particular circle. Bigg Daddy is out of Alice K White, who is out of Champagne Lane. The Giles ran against Champagne Lane when everyone was still in Utah.
The ownership of Bigg Daddy boasts a rather unique structure.
“There are nine owners. We’d trained for all of them, but they were getting discouraged and talking about getting out of the business,” explained Jill. “We didn’t want that to happen, so Wes came up with the idea of buying four colts for nine owners. The horses could be swapped out when, and if, needed. If one gets hurt, we still have three others to run. It’s worked great so far, and we even picked up one new guy. We’re winning races and going to the winner’s circle. They all come to the races and the level of enthusiasm is back up. Everyone is having fun, which is what it’s all about.”
One of the Giles’ special talents is running older horses. They want them to last as long as possible since each colt represents a substantial investment. This includes Bigg Daddy.
According to Jill, Bigg Daddy’s derby season will carry a light schedule.
Wes, of course, selects all the horses. That practiced eye running through the line of Giles trainers served him well when it came to his $24,000 purchase of the sorrel Bigg Daddy.
The pedigree is outstanding, taking in a strong dose of MJ Farms’ foundation mare lines. It’s interesting to note that Champagne Lane, the dam of Alice K White, is by Lanes Leinster, who belonged to Blane Schvaneveldt. The arcs of the circle continue marching to completion.
The top includes Miss Racy Eyes, the dam of Big Daddy Cartel. She leads to Miss Racy Vike and Racin Free – all were names to be reckoned with at south Texas tracks. The sire of Big Daddy Cartel is Corona Cartel, a breeding legend laid out by Butch Wise and Lazy E in Oklahoma.
Bigg Daddy Cartel has four crops to his credit with two crops to race, and a total of 108 performing foals with $2,380,211 in cumulative earnings. Bigg Daddy is his all-time leading money earner with $661,418. Adding to Bigg Daddy’s strength and value is his ability to
more than hold his own in both open and New Mexico-bred competitions.
NM Champion QH Two-Year-Old Filly
TWO WINES
(Jesse James Jr-Champagne Lane, Lanes Leinster) Bred by: MJ Farms
Owned by: Doug Ruby
Trained by: Justin Joiner
2017: 7 1-4-1 $96,234 Maiden Special Weight
The Joiner family is definitely one of those circles when it comes to racing. Mom Linda and dad Mike. Sons Cody and Justin. The circle added new arcs to take in two daughters-in-law and adored grandchildren.
Mike took Linda to his barn for their first
date, introducing her to the horses. After all, her reaction would help determine whether or not the relationship would move forward. She immediately fell in love with the curious heads that poked over the stall doors when they heard Mike’s voice. The deal was sealed, right then and there.
Cody and Justin were brought up with the basic Joiner values – respect, work hard, be honest and truthful and remember who you are. The boys were encouraged to select their own paths but it was no secret that mom and dad, especially dad, wouldn’t mind if one or both answered the call of the race track. As things turned out, they both threw in with Mike and the entire family basked in the success of the Joiner men. They ran with the best and they won with the best.
Mike trained Alice K White (Champion), the daughter of Champagne Lane, for MJ Farms. The Joiners centered their training efforts
at Ruidoso, later branching out to include Los Alamitos. Cody was moving forward at a full throttle pace until he decided to switch gears a few years ago and slide into more of a desk job. Now, 37 year-old Justin has claimed his first New Mexico champion with Two Wines.
“This is the first horse I’ve trained for Doug Ruby,” explained Justin, “and it really all came about through Dad.
“Dad ran into Mr. Ruby in Oklahoma City when he was buying the filly (Two Wines). They talked and the filly wound up here. She’s one of those horses who just naturally makes her trainer look good. She’s so smart that she’s practically automatic. She’s completely sound and she’s never had surgery. On top of that, her temperament is such that you could keep her
Look at the background information on the nine Champions. Eight of them
are stamped with Mac Murray/
Janis Spencer Murray’s MJ Farms influence.
SPRING 2018 47