Page 127 - NM Winter 2023

THE DOWNS AT ALBUQUERQUE
New Mexico State Fair QH Derby (RG3)
Photos by Coady Photography
Eye Am King
Mr Jess Perry
Eye For Corona
Bridgette Bordeaux
Blushing Bug
Sandys Fame
VINTAGE BOURDEAUX
The Tungsten Racing Partnership’s Vintage Bourdeaux earned his first stakes victory in the October 15, 400-yard New Mexico State Fair Derby (RG3) for state-bred 3-year-old Quarter Horses at Albuquerque Downs.
The second-fastest qualifier from six trials contested on September 23, Vintage Bourdeaux defeated eighth-fastest qualifier Just En King by a nose in :19.122. Luis Flores-Garcia rode the sorrel son of Eye Am King for trainer Marco Flores.
Vintage Bourdeaux pocketed the $217,605 winner’s share of a stakes-record $435,210 purse. The gelding was bred by Mac and Janis Murray’s MJ Farms at Veguita, New Mexico, and he was purchased as a yearling by Marcelino Gonzalez for $33,000 at the 2021 New Mexico-Bred Sale at Ruidoso Downs.
Vintage Bourdeaux’s sire, Eye Am King, is an unplaced 8-year-old son of the Streakin La Jolla stallion Mr Jess Perry and 2007 Golden State Million Futurity (G1) winner Eye For Corona. A full brother to stakes winner Dr Jess and a half-brother to stakes winner Ultimate Wave and multiple Grade 1 derby finalist Eye For FDD, Eye Am King has from two crops sired the earners of more than $3.6 million, including graded stakes winner Bella De Ball and stakes winner Doin Something Right.
Eye Am King is owned by and will stand the 2024 season for a $6,000 fee at MJ Farms.
Vintage Bourdeaux is out of Bridgette
Bordeaux, a winning homebred daughter of the Bugs Alive In 75 stallion Blushing Bug who ran second in the 2005 New Mexico State Fair Derby (RG3). The gelding is a full brother to Boardeaux, a son of Eye Am King who ran third in the April 1 New Mexican Spring Fling Stakes (R) at Sunland Park, and a half-brother to 2014 New Mexico State Fair Senor Futurity (RG3) winner Jess Bordeaux.
Vintage Bourdeaux’s second dam, the winning homebred Dash Ta Fame mare Sandys Fame, ran second in the 1997 Diamond Classic Futurity (RG1) at Casper, Wyoming. Sandys Fame foaled Sandys Jesse, a half-sister to Bridgette Bordeaux who won the 2013 New Mexico Horse Breeders’ Association Stakes (RG2) at Sunland Park, and Lagaria, a stakes- placed full sister to Bridgette Bordeaux who produced 2011 Mountain Top Futurity (R) winner Sammy James.
Vintage Bourdeaux traces back to his third dam, Dashin Sandy, a homebred daughter of the Streakin Six stallion Streakin Dash who won the 1992 Diamond Classic Futurity (RG2).
Vintage Bourdeaux was coming off of a three- quarter length win in his New Mexico State Fair Derby trial. The gelding has won five of 14 races and has banked $283,073.
White Knight finished third, a half of a length behind Vintage Bourdeaux. Fastest qualifier Fine Am Eye, Codex, Pick Your Pour,
Dash Flash, Wood Dee Queen, KJ Daddys Money and Jenavi completed the order of finish.
Just En King earned the $87,042 runner-up share of the purse for his owner, Ronald N. Ulibarri. A homebred son of Eye Am King, the sorrel gelding has won two of nine starts and has banked $102,073, of which $94,327 has been earned from five races this year.
White Knight is a sorrel son of Eye Am King racing for Jose Moreno, who purchased the gelding for $45,000 at the 2021 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. A half-brother to 2015 AQHA champion 3-year-old filly Astica, White Knight has won two of nine outs, and the $52,225 third- place share of the State Fair Derby purse increased his earnings to $99,547, of which $99,367 has been banked from six starts this season.
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