Preview Racing


Nine Entered in Sunland’s Dona Ana County Handicap
Multiple graded winner Major Bites has been installed as the 4-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday’s 440-yard, $85,000 Dona Ana County Handicap (R) at Sunland Park.

© Coady Photography
Nine Entered in Sunland’s Dona Ana County Handicap

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

SUNLAND PARK, NM—ANUARY 16, 2019—Nine New Mexico-bred Quarter Horses have been entered in Saturday’s 440-yard, $85,000 Dona Ana County Handicap (R) at Sunland Park.

Israel Bordier’s Major Bites, a 6-year-old son of Jesse James Jr and the 4-5 morning-line favorite, drew post 5 and will be ridden by Esgar Ramirez for trainer Jimmy Guerra. A Grade 1 winner during the Zia Park fall meet, the gelding has been assigned top weight of 132 pounds by racing secretary Gerald Richards, and he is coming off of a third-place finish, 1 1/4 lengths behind winner Jessies First Down, in the 440-yard, $350,000 Championship at Sunland Park (G1) on December 30.

Other contenders include Percyjones, a 5-year-old Jesse James Jr gelding who will be making his season debut for owners Terry and Irene Stennett. Percyjones ended his 2018 campaign with a second-place finish, a neck behind winner Daddys Blushing, in the 400-yard, $85,000 Jess Burner Memorial Handicap (RG1) on December 28.

Percyjones drew post 7 and will be ridden by Ricky Ramirez for trainer Trey Wood.

The complete lineup for the Dona Ana County Handicap, including jockey and weight assignments and morning-line odds:

  1. Rime Chimes (Jose A. Alvarez, 123), 15-1
  2. Mr Klee (Alan Hernandez, 125), 6-1
  3. Marcus Medallion (Adrian Ramos, 123), 12-1
  4. Magnifico Dragon (Manuel Gutierrez, 126), 5-1
  5. Major Bites (Esgar Ramirez, 132), 4-5
  6. Hollywoodcrown (Sergio Becerra Jr., 124), 8-1
  7. Percyjones (Ricky Ramirez, 127), 3-1
  8. Cartels Star Daddy (Jaime P. Leos, 123), 20-1
  9. Altitude Project (Tanner Thedford, 122), 20-1

All Sunland Park races can be seen at Q-RacingVideo.com.