RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—JULY 29, 2018—Wes Giles' trained horses won the two largest purses during the Zia Festival program on Sunday at Ruidoso Downs when Jess Fire Chick took the $409,680 Zia Quarter Horse Futurity and Bigg Daddy won the $190,937 Zia Quarter Horse Derby (see related story.

The nine stakes races on the Zia program were for New Mexico-bred thoroughbreds and quarter horses (see undercard story).

Mike Abraham and Paul Blanchard's Jess Fire Chick, the 5-2 favorite, remains undefeated from four starts with the one-half-length win in :20.148 for the 400 yards while facing a 16 mile-per-hour headwind.

Too For Two's Midnite Blu, also from the Giles barn, finished second by a nose over Daniel Ramirez's Cd Mamas Boy.

Jess Fire Chick, a $5,000 Ruidoso New Mexico-bred Yearling Sale purchase, went to the lead and showed her innate tenacity to get the win.

"She's got a huge heart," said Giles. "Not many horses give as much as her."

I thought going into her first start that she had a good chance to win. She won and I keep on waiting for her to get tired and she doesn't."

A daughter of Jess A Chicks, Jess Fire Chick won her Mountain Top Futurity trial in her debut and then fought to a head win in the $345,655 Mountain Top Futurity(G3).

Jess Fire Chick drew into a deep Zia Futurity trial and again showed her gameness with a head victory.

Co-owner Mike Abraham bred Jess Fire Chicks from the Walk Thru Fire mare Required Fire. With a perfect 4-for-4 record the sorrel filly has earned more than $322,000 in the last 60 days.

Runner-up Midnite Blu, a $45,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale purchase, was third to Jess Fire Chick in the New Mexican Spring Futurity and second to Cd Mamas Boy in their Zia Futurity trial.

Also trained by Giles, runner-up Midnite Blu earned $73,742 for second. The royally bred son of First Moonflash is out of the Corona Cartel mare The Blues Girl, a sister to world champion Blues Girl Too.

Owned by Too For Two, the brown gelding was bred by Mike Abraham. Midnite Blu has earned $123,487 in four career starts.

AQHA Racing champion jockey G.R. Carter Jr. had the riding call.

Cd Mamas Boy won a maiden race two starts ago and then took his Zia Futurity trial for trainer Juan Esquivel. The First Moonflash gelding picked up $40,968 for owner Daniel Ramirez. Cynthia Dick bred Cd Mamas Boy from the Corona Cartel Mama Rose B. Ridden by jockey Enrique Ortiz, he has banked $50,318 this year.

Completing the field were Regard The Sevens, Sister Sophia, Zee James-DH, Kunde-DH, No Mires A La Luna, June Bug Daddy and Fireball Flash.

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