Page 49 - New Mexico Summer 2021

Jimmy Drake Stakes (RG3)
Colby James, a 4-year-old son of Jesse James Jr racing for Rex Wells, led at every call en route to a 1/2-length victory in the May 16, $54,295 Jimmy Drake Stakes (RG3) for New Mexico-bred Quarter Horses at SunRay Park.
Trained by James Gonzales II and racing against a reported 14-mph head wind, Colby James covered 400 yards in :19.267 for a 112 speed index. Mario Delgado rode the sorrel gelding.
Colby James was bred by Mac and Janis Murray’s MJ Farms in Veguita, and he was purchased by Wells for $15,000 at the 2018 New Mexico-Bred Sale at Ruidoso Downs. The gelding’s sire, Jesse James Jr, was a son of 1994 AQHA champion 2-year-old Mr Jess Perry. Racing in California and New Mexico from 2003-06, Jesse James Jr earned $167,275 from 21 starts and won the 2005 First Down Dash Handicap at Los Alamitos.
Jesse James Jr has sired the earners of more than $19.7 million from 11 crops, including 2015 AQHA champion 3-year-old filly Astica, and multiple graded stakes winners Major Bites,
Osbaldo, and Princess Jesse. The stallion died in August 2017 after a battle with laminitis.
Colby James is out of Sandy June Bug, an unraced homebred daughter of the Bugs Alive In 75 stallion Blushing Bug. The gelding is a full brother to 2012 Mountain Top Futurity (R) winner Junior June Bug, and he is a half-brother to two stakes winners, including ‘17 Mountain Top Futurity (RG3) winner Daddys Blushing.
Colby James’ second dam, the winning homebred Dash Ta Fame mare Sandys Fame, ran second in the 1997 Diamond Classic Futurity (RG1) at the Central Wyoming Fair.
Raced in New Mexico and Oklahoma, Colby James has won six of 13 starts, and the $33,660 winner’s share of the purse from his second career stakes win pushed his bankroll to $400,495.
Wahene Version finished second and was followed by Burn One Down For Me, Marcus Medallion, Girl With A Plan, Wisho, and Cartel Drunk Playboy.
Wahene Version is a 5-year-old Winners Version mare racing for Erick Carrillo. Wahene
Version has earned $179,600 from 22 races, and her seven wins include the 2019 Sunburst Stakes (RG3) for New Mexico-bred sophomore fillies at Sunland Park.
A 4-year-old son of Woodbridge owned by Carlos F. Paez, Burn One Down For Me has won three of 13 outs and has banked $59,356 while racing exclusively in New Mexico. The gelding was a $22,000 yearling purchase at the 2018 New Mexico-Bred Sale.
by Michael Cusortelli
SUNRAY PARK
Jesse James Jr
Mr Jess Perry
Loose Lips
Sandy June Bug
Blushing Bug
Sandys Fame
COLBY JAMES
SUMMER 2021 47
Coady Photography
Coady Photography