Racing


Riddle, Calderon Get Second Graded Win On Card, This Is A Deal Too Repeats In Lovington Stakes
This Is A Deal Too, under jockey Francisco Calderon, defends his title in the Grade 2 $50,000 Lovington Stakes on Sunday at Zia Park.

© Coady Photography
Riddle, Calderon Get Second Graded Win On Card, This Is A Deal Too Repeats In Lovington Stakes

HOBBS, NM—DECEMBER 1, 2019—Trainer Jackie Riddle and jockey Francisco Calderon scored for back-to-back graded stakes wins at Zia Park Sunday when This Is A Deal Too got a nose win over Badhabit Jess in the Grade 2 $50,000 Lovington Stakes.

In the prior race at Zia Park the pair combined with Stolis Pro to win the Grade 3 $50,000 King Rick Stakes.

This Is A Deal Too, was speed all the way under jockey Calderon, has he lead wire-to-wire while completing the 400 yards in :19.535 seconds, a 98 speed index. The multiple graded winner got his seventh career win and the $28,800 winners' purse raised his lifetime mark to just over $255,000.

The winning connections of This Is A Deal Too accept the Lovington Stakes(G2) trophy for the second consecutive time, Sunday at Zia Park. © Coady Photography
Dealagame, entered the race off a second-place effort in the Grade 3 B.F. Phillips, Jr. Stakes at Lone Star Park on November 8. Riddle saddled the sorrel gelding, from the multiple stakes producing First Down Dash mare Lady Lilia, to his second consecutive Lovington Stakes(G2) win.

Runner-up Badhabit Jess races for owner La Feliz Montana Ranch LLC and is conditioned by trainer Jose Meraz. The son of leading sire Mr Jess Perry just missed under jockey Raul Herrera, earning $9,600 for his second-place effort. Grant Farms LLC bred the sorrel gelding in Louisiana from the Looking For Chicks mare Sheza Bad Habit. He has earned $162.678.

Jacky Martin 21, a 4-year-old son of world champion sire FDD Dynasty, finished a neck back in the blanket finish to get third. Gregory Gonzalez trains the New Mexico homebred for owner-breeder 21 Partnership. The bay gelding picked up $4,800 to bring his earnings to $122,865. Alonso Rivera was riding.

Delight Won, Walcott, Rarin, Wokatee On Fire, Strykr Force, New News and Marfilmio completed the field.