SUNLAND PARK, NM—DECEMBER 15, 2017—Major Bites, a graded stakes winner during the recently concluded Zia Park meet, will make his next start in Saturday’s 400-yard, $85,000 Jess Burner Memorial Handicap (RG1) for New Mexico-breds at Sunland Park.

Trained by Jesus Carrete for owner Israel Bordier, Major Bites is coming off of a half-length victory in the 440-yard, $170,000 Namehimastreaker New Mexico Cup Championship (RG1) at Zia Park on October 29. The 4-year-old Jesse James Jr gelding drew post 3 and will be ridden by Jose Montoya.

Running Dragon, a gray daughter of Zulu Dragon trained by Juan Carlos Gonzalez for owner By By JJ LLC of El Paso, Texas, drew post 9 and will be ridden by Adrian Ramos. The 3-1 morning-line favorite, Running Dragon has won four of eight starts and has earned $322,009 this year, and her season resume includes a neck victory in the 400-yard, $140,000 New Mexico Filly & Mare Championship (RG1) at Zia Park on November 22.

Other contenders include Robert D. Smith’s Play Misty Foreme, a 4-year-old Jesse James Jr gelding trained by Jose Luis Muela and the runner-up to Major Bites in the Namehimastreaker New Mexico Cup Championship. Play Misty Foreme has banked $103,988 from seven outs this year, and his season record includes a second-place finish, a half of a length behind winner Carson City Girl, in the August 27, 440-yard First Moonflash Maturity (R) for New Mexico-breds at Albuquerque Downs.

The Jess Burner Memorial Handicap is the 10th race on Sunland Park’s 10-race program. Estimated post time for the stakes is set for 4:15 p.m. (MST). The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey and weight assignments and morning-line odds:

1. Cinco Menudos (Raul Herrera, 123), 15-1
2. Mitey Man (Jose Enrique Ortiz, 122), 20-1
3. Major Bites (Jose Montoya, 125), 5-1
4. Big Spurs (Roberto Meraz Jr., 121), 20-1
5. Yudes Jess Dashin (Felipe Garcia-Luna, 123), 6-1
6. Seeyalateralligator (L. Salvador Martinez, 123), 6-1
7. Carson City Girl (Esgar Ramirez, 124), 8-1
8. Magnifico Dragon (Mauro Salcedo, 124), 8-1
9. Running Dragon (Adrian Ramos, 126), 3-1
10. Play Misty Foreme (Jose Luis Enriquez, 123), 4-1

AE-Frank N Jesse (Esgar Ramirez, 120), 15-1
AE-Hot Authorization (Jose Montoya, 120), 20-1