Page 91 - New Mexico Winter 2021

THE DOWNS AT ALBUQUERQUE
New Mexico State Fair Derby
by Michael Cusortelli • Photos by Coady Photography
Big Daddy Cartel
Corona Cartel
Miss Racy Eyes
Miss Woody Dee
Woodbridge
Deeheiress
BIGG DEE
Rex Wells’ Bigg Dee, a bay son of Big Daddy Cartel and the fourth-fastest qualifier, led at every call en route to a one-length victory in
the September 19, $238,264 New Mexico State Fair Derby (R) for state-bred 3-year-old Quarter Horses at Albuquerque Downs.
Prepped by James Gonzales II, Bigg Dee went 400 yards in :19.586 while posting a 94 speed index. Mario Delgado rode the gelding, who banked $119,132 from his third career stakes win.
Bigg Dee was bred by Mac and Janis Murray’s MJ Farms at Veguita, New Mexico, and he was a $30,000 yearling purchase by Wells at the 2019 New Mexico-Bred Sale at Ruidoso Downs. His sire, Big Daddy Cartel, is a winning 12-year-old son of the Holland Ease stallion Corona Cartel. Racing exclusively at Ruidoso Downs in 2011, the stallion earned $121,800 and was a finalist in that season’s All American (G1) and Rainbow (G1) futurities.
A half-brother to stakes winner Racy La Jolla, Big Daddy Cartel has sired the earners of more than $11.3 million from six crops, including mul- tiple graded stakes winner and 2017 All American Futurity (G1) runner-up Bigg Daddy, and mul- tiple graded stakes winners Cat Daddys Lil Girl and Mamacita Cartel. The stallion is owned by and stands for a $5,500 fee at MJ Farms.
Bigg Dee is out of Miss Woody Dee, a
homebred 12-year-old daughter of the Dash
Ta Fame stallion Woodbridge. His second
dam, the Mr Jess Perry mare Deeheiress, won the 2004 Miss Princess Handicap (G3) at Los Alamitos, was a finalist in that season’s Grade 1 Golden State, Los Alamitos Super, and Southern California derbies, and is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Rollickin Red.
Bigg Dee traces back to his third dam, Deelish, a First Down Dash mare who was the sport’s champion 2-year-old filly in 1998 and champion aged mare in 2000.
Bigg Dee was coming off of a wire-to-wire, 1 1/4-length victory in one of three New Mexico State Fair Derby trials on August 28. The gelding has won eight of 13 races -- including five of seven at the 400-yard distance -- and he has earned $324,560, of which $231,461 has been pocketed from six outs this season.
Bigg Dee’s two graded stakes scores include a nose victory in the 400-yard, $203,000 Zia Derby (RG2) at Ruidoso Downs on July 31.
Second-fastest qualifier Chicky Chicky Kai ran second and was followed by Im Jess Sixy, Woodys Gold, Famous Clyde, Tuco Salamanca, Run Potion, Western Sandman, and Ezze
Off. Fastest qualifier Cristom was listed by the Equibase chart as a veterinarian scratch.
A chestnut daughter of the Chicks A Blazin stallion Jess A Chicks, Chicky Chicky Kai races for Mike G. Parker. The filly has won three of nine races, and the $47,653 runner-up share of the New Mexico State Fair Derby purse bumped her earnings to $94,141. Chicky Chicky Kai’s summer resume included a fourth-place finish, one length behind winner Icy Morning Breeze, in the inaugural 350-yard, $91,000 Mountain Top Derby (R) at Ruidoso Downs on June 19.
Im Jess Sixy banked $28,592 for his owners, Felix Rodriguez and Sergio Holguin. A sorrel son of Jess A Chicks and a $4,700 yearling buy at the 2019 New Mexico-Bred Sale, the gelding has won one of his 12 races and has earned $52,990.
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