HOBBS, NM—OCTOBER 29, 2017—Major Bites and Tag Yur It each handily won undercard stakes on Sunday's New Mexico Day card at Zia Park. A total of 131 New Mexico-bred Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses were entered. Purses for the 12 races -- eight for Thoroughbreds and four for Quarter Horses -- exceeded $2 million.

Major Bites Gets Scores in Namehimastreaker New Mexico Cup QH Championship

At 11-to-1 Major Bites scored his first career stakes win on Sunday when he defeated Play Misty Forme by half-a-length in the $170,000 Namehimastreaker New Mexico Cup QH Championship(RG1) at Zia Park. Princess Jesse finished 1-¼ lengths back to make it a Jesse James Jr trifecta.

Ridden by jockey Jose Alvarez, the son of multiple stakes sire Jesse James Jr completed the 440 yards in :21.943 seconds into a 10-mph headwind. The $102,000 winners' purse boosted his career mark to $228,012.

Jesus Carrete conditions the 4-year-old for owner Israel Bordier. Carlos Paez bred Major Bites from the Major Rime mare Dyna Mo Rime.

Runner-up Play Misty Forme, a graded stakes winning son of Jesse James Jr., is owned by Robert D. Smith and trained by Jose Muela. MJ Farms bred the 4-year-old earner of more than $232,000 from the Blushing Bug mare Arbor Mist. Ridden by Jose Luis Enriquez, Play Misty Forme earned $37,400 for second.

Third-place finisher Princess Jesse earned $17,000 for owner Mikkelson Racing LLC. Owned-and-bred by Vance Mikkelson, the Jesse James Jr filly is out of Total Miracle by Dean Miracle. Esgar Ramirez rode the multiple stakes winner.

Running Dragon, Carlson City Girl, Get Down Bambi, You Can Do It Regard, Seeyalateralligator, Tyger Power and Jjs Fast Cash Rf completed the field.

Tag Yur It Steps Up In New Mexico Cup 870 Championship

Tag Yur It finished third in the 2016 New Mexico Cup 870 Championship a year ago. Today the son of Roll Hennessy Roll (TB) edged clear off the turn then rolled to a 1-¼ length win to get his first career stakes victory in the $140,000 New Mexico Cup 870 Championship.

Storm Chaser was second followed by Machismo Moon in third.

Ridden by jockey Alfredo Juarez, Jr., Tag Yur It completed the 870 yards in :45.999 seconds, a 90-speed index. It was the sixth win in 21 starts for the 5-year-old gelding. The $84,000 winners' purse boosted his bankroll to more than $213,500.

Lauren Fincher saddled the winner for owner 3L Racing Partners. Barbara and Robert Bauer bred Tag Yur It from Upside Down, a daughter of The Down Side.

Storm Chaser, who started for a $15,000-tag at Ruidoso in August, picked up $30,800 for second. Martin Orona, Sr. conditions the 7-year-old son of Attila's Storm (TB) for owner Isadora Esparza. Joan Dale Hubbard bred the earner of $238,460 from the Dash For Cash mare Stardust Dash. Alejandro Medellin was up.

Third-place finisher Machismo Moon races for owners Ramon Alvarez, Joe Alvarez, Joe and Medrano Ysabel. Seth Ferguson saddled the Heza Motor Scooter 3-year-old with Mauro Salcedo riding.

Bred by Dosi and Norma Alvarez from the Dash Ta Fame mare Machi Moon, Machismo Moon picked up $14,000 for his effort. Second is last year's RG1 Zia Futurity and a finalist in the Grade 1 All American Derby on September 3, the brown gelding was making his first start against older horses and at the 870-yard distance. He has banked more than $157,000.

Sierra Ladron, D E Wagon Strawfly, Dark Brook, Dm Nate Dog and Jess Excessive completed the field.