Page 147 - Speedhorse, October 2021

Yearling Sale. After the purchase, Wells sent Bigg Dee to Gonzales.
“I’m very thankful and appreciative of the owner that he gets to be in my barn,” said the trainer. Gonzales, who follows the New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma circuit, not only has done well with Bigg Dee, he has trained several other stakes winners.
In 2012 he won the Ruidoso Derby-G1
with Executive Brass, owned by John Thurmond and Sherree Meridyth. This year for owner Cody Cobb, Gonzales captured the Mountain Top Futurity-G2 at Ruidoso Downs with Mr Innovator, like Bigg Dee a son of Big Daddy Cartel.
Gonzales said that Bigg Dee has always done everything right.
“He’s been so professional from day one,” the trainer said. “It’s a pleasure to be around him. He’s not mean; he’s not aggressive. He’s very loving, and he loves his apple oat snacks. We take him out in the mornings and he trains and does his work. He gets back to the barn, rests, eats. He’s good in the gates. He’s an overall great athlete.”
Bigg Dee became a stakes winner at two in 2020, when he won the Zia Juvenile Stakes. He also finished 2nd in the 2020 New Mexico Classic Futurity-G2 at Zia Park. Earlier this year he won the Zia Derby-G2 at Ruidoso and was 2nd in the Mountain Top New Mexico Bred Derby.
“We’re probably going to the New Mexico Classic Derby in Hobbs next,” said Gonzales. “He came back good after the race, so everything points to Zia Park. Hopefully, we can keep the streak going.”
Mac and Janis Murray of Veguita, New Mexico, bred Bigg Dee in the name of their MJ Farms from their homebred mare Miss Woody Dee. Bigg Dee is the mare’s first
starter. Bigg Dee’s second dam, Deeheiress, won the 2004 Miss Princess Handicap-G3 and 2006 Anaheim Handicap. Bigg Dee’s third dam is Champion Deelish. The 1998 Champion Two-Year-Old Filly and 2000 Champion Aged Mare, Deelish won such races as the 1998 Dash For Cash Futurity-G1 and 2000 Go Man Go Handicap-G1. Her stakes-placings included a secnd in the 2000 Champion of Champions-G1 to A Ransom, that year’s World Champion.
Sergio Becerra Jr. rode Chicky Chicky Kai (Jess A Chicks-Wahene Kai) to second for trainer Larry Chavez and owner Mike Parker. Chicky Chicky Kai won three of eight previous races.
Im Jess Sixy (Jess A Chicks-Subtly Sixy) finished third for jockey Adrian Ramos, trainer Albert Valles, and owners Felix Rodriguez and Sergio Holguin. In 10 prior starts, the gelding has won once, with two seconds and three thirds.
Rounding out the field were Woodys Gold (Woodbridge-All About Gold-TB), Famous Clyde (Winners Version-Miss Dash Ta Dial), Tuco Salamanca (TF Featured Effort-The Rainbow Rea), Run Potion (TF Featured Effort-Thirty Fourth Street), Western Sandman (Saturday Nite Romeo-Queen Lavita), and Ezze Off (Zulu Dragon-One Famous Fling). Cristom was scratched.
RACING NEWS
Bigg Dee’s winning connections include owner Rex Wells, trainer James Gonzales II and jockey Mario Delgado.
Bigg Dee goes wire-to-wire to win by 1-length.
SPEEDHORSE October 2021 145
Coady Photography