Page 109 - NM Summer 2023

SUNLAND PARK
Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap (RG2)
Photos by Coady Photography
Jesse James Jr
Mr Jess Perry
Loose Lips
Diez Tambien
Brimmerton
Ima Ten Also
DIEZS DAYLIGHT
Making his first start against stakes company, Diezs Daylight sprinted to a half-length victory in the February 11, 350- yard Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap (RG2) for New Mexico-bred Quarter Horses at Sunland Park.
Diezs Daylight stopped the timer in :17.522 and posted a 96 speed index while racing against a reported 10-mph head wind. Adrian Ramos rode the 5-year-old Jesse James Jr gelding for owner and trainer Jaime Aldavaz Sr., who claimed Diezs Daylight at Sunland Park for $8,000 on January 21, 2022.
Diezs Daylight was bred by Max Fraze, and he sold as a yearling for $11,000 at the 2019 New Mexico-Bred Sale at Ruidoso Downs. His sire, Jesse James Jr, was a stakes winning and multiple Grade 1 placed
son of 1994 AQHA champion 2-year-old Mr Jess Perry. Raced in New Mexico and California from 2003-06, Jesse James Jr earned $167,275 from 21 outs, and his five wins included the 2005 First Down Dash Handicap at Los Alamitos.
From 13 crops, Jesse James Jr has sired
the earners of more than $22.1 million, including 2015 AQHA champion sophomore filly Astica, Grade 1 winner Major Bites, and multiple graded stakes winners Colby James, Osbaldo and Princess Jesse. The stallion after a battle with laminitis on August 24, 2017.
Diezs Daylight is out of Diez Tambien, a winning daughter of 2004 AQHA champion 3-year-old colt Brimmerton. The gelding’s second dam, Ima Ten Also, was a stakes- winning daughter of the Top Deck stallion Mighty Deck and finalist in the 1984 Sunland Park Fall Futurity (G2) and 1985 Los Alamitos Derby (G1).
Diezs Daylight was shortening in distance off of his three-quarter length victory in an open 400-yard starter allowance-optional claiming ($15,000) dash at Sunland Park
on January 14. All told, Diezs Daylight has won six of 14 races -- including five of six at Sunland Park -- and the $60,000 winner’s share of the $100,000 Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap purse bumped his bankroll to $155,464, of which $80,038 has been earned from two outs this year.
Diezs Daylight was sent to post at odds of 7-1 in the full field of 10, and he returned a $17.20 win mutuel. HS Paul Walker, the 11-10 favorite, ran second to complete a $2 exacta dividend of $64.
No Mires A La Luna, Fly On Down, Jess Ring The Bell, Hunky McGoo, Cowboy Zulu, Dragon On Ice, Spiritonthemountain and Bigg Dee completed the order of finish.
HS Paul Walker was coming off of a neck victory in the January 7, 400-yard Red
or Green Stakes (RG2) at Sunland Park.
A homebred 7-year-old son of the Jesse James Jr stallion Osbaldo campaigned by Hubaldo Solis of Peralta, New Mexico, the gray gelding has won eight of 33 races, and the $20,000 runner-up share of the Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap purse pushed his earnings to $298,242.
No Mires A La Luna is a homebred bay son of 2009 AQHA champion aged stallion First Moonflash owned by Byron Woodard. The 7-year-old gelding has won eight of
26 races -- including six stakes -- and the $10,000 third-place share of the purse increased his bankroll to $670,715. No Mires A La Luna was a finalist in Apocalyptical Jess’ 2018 All American Futurity (G1) at Ruidoso Downs.
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